BITS Faculty Publications
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Item A comprehensive framework for analysis and evaluation of factors responsible for sustainable growth of electric vehicles in India(Elsevier, 2022-12) Digalwar, Abhijeet KumarThe Indian transport sector powered by fossil fuels is primarily responsible for creating severe issues like greenhouse gas emissions, foreign fuel dependency, economic burden, and chronic health effects. To mitigate these severe issues, electric vehicles (EVs) are positioned as an alternate green and clean technology, which can potentially enable the efficient transition to a sustainable low-carbon emission transportation system and preservation of natural scarce resources. Despite announcing favorable policy measures to encourage EV adoption, the multiplicity of potential factors with mutual interaction has resisted its penetration in several countries. Though researchers have identified the critical factors, the question “How do these factors mutually interact among themselves?” has remained largely unanswered in empirical research. Unpacking the relationship between the factors will empower manufacturers and policymakers in strategic planning, and devising suitable measures in controlling the factors. The primary goal of this research is to undertake a thorough assessment and give a brief understanding of the various factors responsible for sustainable growth of EVs market in India. Factors are identified from past academic literature and experts' interviews. Study further empirically validated the identified factors. Then integrated Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) – Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) approach has been used to demonstrate the interrelationship and hierarchal structure of the factors. The present study will be useful to the manufacturers, policymakers to focus on the gray area so that they can expedite the growth of EVs deployment in India.Item A geospatial integrated multi-criteria approach for assessment of solar and wind energy potentials with economic and environmental analysis(AIP, 2023-12) Digalwar, Abhijeet KumarIndia has made an international commitment to generate about 50% of its total energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2030. Here, to meet such a commitment, this study developed high-resolution (1 × 1 km2) geospatial solar and wind geographical potential maps with an aim to calculate the theoretical and technical potentials with economic and environmental sustainability. These geographical potential maps are developed by taking into account 13 evaluation and restriction factors pertaining to technical, economic, and socio-environmental categories. The investigation identifies that Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Gujarat have a plurality of extremely favorable land areas for solar and wind energy sources. Furthermore, the results imply that appropriate planning for the installation of renewable projects at the identified optimum locations can fulfill India's commitments with regard to an optimal energy mix scenario, with energy available twice the available potential for consumption in 2030. Furthermore, with the least average levelized cost of energy of 38.8 $/MWh (2.83₹/kWh) and 42.3 $/MWh (3.09₹/kWh), solar and wind energy sources are potentially more appealing and affordable than conventional energy sources. The findings of this study will also significantly advance India's attempts to accept and develop renewable energy sources, helping to realize the government's objective for sustainable electricity productionItem Industry 4.0 implementation: evidence from Indian industries(Springer, 2023-12) Digalwar, Abhijeet KumarThe emergence of “Industry 4.0” signifies a new industrial era, where various technologies converge to provide digital solutions. Industry 4.0 (I4.0), encompasses a range of digital technologies that profoundly impact manufacturing businesses. However, there is limited knowledge regarding how businesses utilize these technologies. This paper addresses the pillars of Industry 4.0, a crucial part of the next industrial revolution for Indian manufacturing industries aiming to become competitive smart factories in the global market. A survey of 73 Indian industries assessed their current technologies. Implementation criteria for Industry 4.0 in Indian industries were established based on the survey results. The findings reveal that customer satisfaction and quality are top priorities for Indian industries. While most industries have implemented Industry 3.0 practices, awareness and adoption of I4.0 still pose challenges, particularly for SMEs. This report analyzes the technological status of Indian industries, identifies the gap, and provides a roadmap for adopting Industry 4.0. Bridging this knowledge gap and embracing Industry 4.0 can enhance competitiveness, drive innovation, and meet the evolving demands of the global market. The transition to smart factories powered by Industry 4.0 unlocks new opportunities for India’s industrial sector, propelling it towards a prosperous future.Item Modeling the supply chain risk and barriers to electric vehicle technology adoption in India(Springer, 2023-12) Digalwar, Abhijeet KumarThe Electric Vehicle (EV) technology is believed to be the most effective to reduce dependency on petrol and diesel vehicles and thereby achieve clean environmental objectives. In pursuit of achieving emission net zero by 2070, central government and state governments are putting substantial efforts to drive the EV technology growth in India. The central and state governments in India through various schemes such as Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME-II), Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI), Swapping policy for batteries, Special Electric Mobility Zone, and subsidies such as tax rebate on EVs. Yet the complete switch to the EVs from petrol and diesel vehicles, still has significant technology and supply chain barriers. This research paper identifies the risks and barriers with respect to supply chain, technology, finance, and policy for the growth of EV technology in India. The research paper using an Interpretive Structural Model (ISM) demonstrates the critical supply chain barriers. Based on the analysis carried out in this research paper, the barriers such as availability of battery packs, raw materials, charging network, and interoperability of batteries are the most critical supply chain barriers to implementing EV technology in India. The research findings will enable policymakers to develop a sustainable EV supply chain in India and in similar developing countries.Item Modelling factors influencing charging station location selection to accelerate ev adoption in India: an ISM-MICMAC analysis(Springer, 2023-12) Digalwar, Abhijeet Kumar; Routroy, SrikantaElectric vehicles (EVs) are rising fast to prominence as a key component of the effort to meet sustainable energy goals. The research and mass manufacturing of new energy vehicles, especially electric vehicles, offer several benefits over conventional energy vehicles, such as zero exhaust emissions, zero pollution, cleanliness, and low cost. As a result, more and more nations are paying attention and placing importance over the development of EV-fleet, but EV sales are still a modest part of all vehicle sales. The protruding reason highlighted by the literature and researchers is underdeveloped charging infrastructure. To get the most out of an EV, an appropriate charging station with optimum configuration needs to be placed in a specific location with all the infrastructure to make it supportive and sustainable hotspot for EVs. This study aims to identify all the factors that needs to be considered while selecting a location for setting up a sustainable charging station for EVs in semi-urban areas. A deeper understanding of factors is explored, using interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and MICMAC analysis. A total of 17 factors are considered for the analysis which are crucial in developing the configurations for an EV charging station. The outcomes of the paper will support the policymakers to locate, determine and decide the suitable locations, and configuration for constructing EV charging stations and escalate the EV adoption.Item Towards sustainable mobility in India: an integrated mcdm analysis of fuel and drive alternatives(2024-01) Digalwar, Abhijeet KumarAutomobiles are significant contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for approximately 17-20% of total emissions, posing a critical threat to sustainability. In addressing this threat, innovation is a crucial component. However, understanding various fuel-type vehicles and the upcoming alternatives from the technical, economic, and environmental-social-governance (ESG) dimensions within the Indian context is what has been stated as a research gap. The study compares current fossil fuel vehicles to sustainable alternatives: Fully Electric Vehicles (FEV), Hydrogen Fuel Vehicles (HFV), Hybrid Vehicles (HV), Compressed/Liquefied Natural Gas (CNG/LNG), and Biofuels. Alternative solutions are evaluated and ranked using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique incorporating global weights. A cross-validation process employs six different MCDM techniques, a correlation index method, and sensitivity analysis to ensure robust and consistent results. The findings are presented through a unique V-model developed using a systems approach. The study identifies FEVs as the most suitable option, followed by HFVs and HEVs, to address future sustainability challenges. This paper contributes to a comprehensive understanding of sustainable automotive solutions, paving the way for India's greener and more environmentally responsible automotive landscape.Item Towards sustainable automobile ecosystem in India: Integrated analysis of technical, economic, and ESG dimensions(Elsevier, 2024-09) Digalwar, Abhijeet KumarGlobal environmental concerns are leading to paradigm shift in the automobile eco-system. This comprehensive study of the automobile ecosystem, incorporates technical, economic, and environmental-social-governance (ESG) dimensions. An “integrated multi-criteria decision-making” (MCDM) methodology using “interpretive structural modelling” (ISM) and “fuzzy analytical hierarchy process” (FAHP) is deployed, The ISM models highlights prominent drivers and critical barriers, establishes their hierarchy, and depicts interrelationships. The FAHP rankings for drivers favours electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel vehicles over others, while barriers promote hybrids and alternate fuels like Biofuel, CNG/LNG. Unlike previous works, this study considers all eco-system factors, both critical drivers and barriers, and demonstrates hierarchy using a unique V-model. This is an innovative extension of V-model from traditional systems engineering to strategic project management domain. This holistic approach, in sync with the natural state of things, will enable government, industry, and academia in formulating a strategic framework towards future automobile sustainability.Item A data-driven framework for optimizing multi-period ev charging infrastructure deployment(IEEE, 2024-12) Digalwar, Abhijeet Kumar; Routroy, SrikantaThe rise of electric vehicles represents a transformative shift in the automotive industry, signaling the dawn of a new era of clean, sustainable transportation, but their operation requires a distributed rapid-charging infrastructure. Building such rapid charging networks is currently capital-intensive and therefore, requires careful planning and the development of the charging infrastructure must be maintained. However, infrastructure construction is not a one-off investment but a multi-period plan. A multi-period location and capacity expansion model of the charging stations will be needed. This study proposes a novel data-driven framework for deploying suitable rapid-charging infrastructure for EVs in large urban areas. This study combines an iterative clustering technique with a geographical information system analysis tool to determine the suitable regions for developing an optimized EV charging service. The analysis intends to plan a case study for Gurugram City of India and suggest the locations that should be the potential points for consideration of charging station development.Item Analysis of multi-renewable energy potential sites in india using spatial characteristics: a gis and hybrid MCDM approach(Springer, 2024-08) Digalwar, Abhijeet KumarLand use and site selection are critical factors in the sustainable installation of large-scale renewable energy projects at a significant scale to accomplish the global goals of promoting renewable energy adoption and fostering a cleaner and more sustainable future. To systematically investigate, the present study developed a geographical information system (GIS)–multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) comprehensive framework to evaluate the spatial characteristics of suitable sites in India. Subsequently, the study identified prominent potential sites and states with abundant renewable resources and assessed the pre-feasibility of renewable power projects. Utilizing the developed framework and analysis, the study identified eight solar sites and seven wind sites as prominent potential locations. Furthermore, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu were identified as states with substantial renewable energy potential, and their renewable energy policies were discussed. The study also conducted case studies on two notable sites, Virudhunagar (S26) and Tirunelveli (W34), in Tamil Nadu, evaluating their technological and economic viability. The levelized cost of energy for solar and wind energy at these sites was determined to be $0.035/kWh and $0.039/kWh, respectively, which is comparable to, and lower than, the costs associated with existing projects. The study emphasizes the significance of incorporating spatial characteristics of suitable sites and evaluating their techno-economic repercussions to ascertain the triumph of the endeavor.Item Indian residents willingness to pay green cess to support electric mobility ecosystem: a societal benefit perspective(Elsevier, 2024-12) Digalwar, Abhijeet KumarThis study investigates the societal benefit of willingness to pay (WTP) green cess on polluting vehicles, to build an ecosystem for promoting zero emissions electric mobility in Western India. A survey method employed enabled data collection from 492 commuters and analysed using an open-ended contingent valuation method (CVM). As per the findings, about 67 % of commuters are in favour to pay green cess to help building an ecosystem for faster adoption of electric vehicles, but at comparatively low price. On positive note, around acknowledged electric mobility adoption needs a supportive ecosystem, while were not so forthcoming. The findings depicted that the average open-ended WTP for green cess evaluates to Rs 370 per month. The study engages commuters as stakeholders, helps analyse their sustainability orientation in terms of WTP and suggests recommendations for utilizing key learnings and monetary tool for inclusive developments towards a cleaner environment