Clean Mobility

10TH JUN 2026: WORK: A FREE HOUSE IS NOT ALWAYS FREE. AFFORDABLE HOUSING CANNOT BE SEPERATED FROM AFFORDABLE MOBILITY

Yesterday, Iamkarmveer explains how relocation can break social capital, making even allotted houses difficult to retain. Watch: https://lnkd.in/dTUSs4ya. The paper he refers "Moving to Opportunity or Isolation?" found that better peripheral housing did not improve income, security or networks for many winners. Read: https://lnkd.in/dFGQ3Mgi

I added perspective and it resonated with many people: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬. This is where urban policy often underestimates lived economics.

For a daily-wage worker, domestic worker, street vendor, construction worker or informal service provider, location is not a lifestyle choice. It is an economic survival decision. A house on the outskirts may look like an asset on paper. But if it increases daily travel cost, travel time and uncertainty of reaching work, it becomes a burden. The city is where income happens. 

This is where SDG 11.2 — safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all becomes central to housing policy. ...more...

27TH MAY 2026: ARTICLES: WHAT IF YOUR ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) COULD CHARGE ITSELF, JUST BY STANDING IN THE SUN?

A powerful idea. A futuristic dream.

And a reality that’s closer — yet also farther — than most people think.

After 15 years in mobility and clean mobility combined, here’s the truth few want to say out loud:

Solar cars won’t replace EV charging anytime soon.

But they can massively reduce grid dependence — if we fix the fundamentals...more...

09TH MAY 2026: WORK: MULTI-LANE FREEFLOW (MLFF) TOLLING STANDS OUT AS A STRONGER STEP TOWARDS EFFICIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE?

For years, FASTag made highway travel faster.  Now, India is taking the next leap. National Highways Authority of India issued this video for user awareness. With the rollout of MLFF (Multi-Lane Free Flow) tolling, the experience for road users is set to fundamentally change for more seamless travel:

Earlier (FASTag):

1. Slowdowns at toll plazas 

2. Queues during peak hours 

3. Stop-and-go driving 

4. Fuel wastage and time loss 

Now MLFF with FASTag:

1. No toll plazas 

2. No stopping — truly seamless highway travel 

3. Automatic toll deduction

4. Reduced travel time, stress, & uncertainty 

From a user’s perspective, this is not just faster travel — it’s a shift in how we experience national highways....more...

30TH APRIL 2026: VIEWS: WHEN SUSTAINABLE CHOICES ALSO BECOME SAFER AND COMFORTABLE CHOICES, PROGRESS BECOMES REAL

There’s something deeply hopeful about watching three generations of your family travel together — comfortably, peacefully, and with joy.

Today, as I travel with my mother, wife & daughter on the Vande Bharat Express through the breathtaking Konkan route, I’m reminded that infrastructure is not just about moving people — it is about shaping how we live, and how safely we live. As the train glides through tunnels, rivers, and lush green valleys between Mumbai and Goa, it feels like more than a journey. It feels like the future we should be building.

Today, the Vande Bharat Express network spans 79 routes, connects 24 states and UTs, serves 9+ crore passengers, and covers 30,000+ km.

But beyond the numbers, what matters is what this means: millions now have access to travel that is faster, safer, more comfortable, and more sustainable....more...

07TH NOV 2025: WORK: FROM SYSTEMS TO LIFESTYLES - MAKING TRAVEL SUSTAINABLE FOR INDIA'S COMMUTERS

For nearly two decades, I have worked in India's mobility ecosystem — from planning Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) to shaping sustainable mobility policies through my work with Government, policy entrepreneurs, infrastructure funds, Concessionaires and MSME organisations.

The past few years have been especially defining -

At Sthaar Consulting, our mission has been to help reimagine transport systems that are safe, inclusive, and low-carbon - notable consulting/research contributions for Council of Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and Indians Highway Management Company Ltd. (IHMCL)

And through Kwanzaa Lifestyle, we extended that philosophy into everyday life — designing travel products made from sustainable materials for corporates committed to environment goals, so that every journey, no matter how small, can be a step towards sustainability.

Together, both journeys share a simple belief: “Sustainability in travel begins not just with infrastructure — but with the choices commuters make every day.”...more...

04TH NOV 2022: WORK: GLOBAL REVIEW OF GNSS BASED ROAD PRICING TO ARRIVE AT POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGY FOR DISTANCE BASED TAX REGIME IN INDIA'S ZEV FUTURE - 70 PAGE STUDY FOR CEEW

In the inaugural session of the 15th Urban Mobility India Conference and Expo 2022, the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Hardeep Singh Puri also launched, "India's EV Transition: Managing Fuel Tax Revenue Loss”. The minister discussed about the future revenue alternatives for oil companies which is discussed in Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) report in the form of distance based taxes, GST, electricity taxes etc.

The study can be downloaded here: https://www.ceew.in/publications/recovering-fuel-tax-revenue-loss-from-ev-transition-in-india

We are honoured that our experts have supported the study that came to this conclusion about suitability of GNSS for Road User Charging (RUC) - especially as we transition from fuel-driven ICEs to electric vehicles. Our analysis suggests that a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is best suited for a long-term transition to a Distance Tax regime in India. 

We prepared a detailed analysis of the use of satellite-based positioning - and other technologies - in distance-based tolling and RUC in India and around the world. It was a pleasure working together with a team of European experts including, Mr. Norbert Schindler, GNSS Consulting. 

We drew upon the experiences in Europe and the USA in using GNSS technology for distance-based road user charging. We have come a long way since 2001, when Switzerland first deployed a distance-based tax using satellite-positioning in 2001. Germany launched its revolutionary GNSS-based tolling system ("LKW Maut") in 2005. Today, there are 10 nationwide tolling/charging schemes operating in Europe based on GNSS (as summarized here: https://www.gnss-consulting.com/using-satellite-positioning-in-all-electronic-tolling/)

Singapore and Indonesia are the first Asian countries to implement a GNSS-based charging scheme, with India currently preparing to do the same. Also in the United States, satellite-based Road User Charging is getting a lot of attention, with three states already having such systems in operation for Electric Vehicles.

Other interesting insights from the study:

"The exponential growth of EVs in the vehicle stock will create a new challenge for the exchequer – revenue lost in fuel taxes on petroleum products. This loss in revenue is almost equal to the funds allotted in the transport budget for viability gap funding for cluster buses in 2020–21"

"A distance-based tax is the best alternative to compensate for the revenue loss from fuel taxes" 

04TH JUL 2022: ARTICLES: CAN INDIA's EV MARKET HELP IT REACH NET-ZERO BY 2070?

Our Co-founder & Managing Director, Mr. Sainath Gurav had shared his views on India's net-zero goals to Automotive World a leading UK based magazine that covers sustainable mobility initiatives worldwide. In this report he emphasised, 

• How Indian Government launched FAME scheme that promote electric and hybrid vehicle technology manufacturing, is useful as many Indians struggle the keep up with the soaring price of EVs.

• How the greater market penetration for EVs could result in less funding for these subsidised initiatives and why we need to balance it out: keep subsidising through government initiatives but eliminate loss from fuel tax revenue if everyone goes electric.

• On India’s younger generation being well read on the effects of climate change and is willing to make lifestyle changes to contribute towards sustainable living.

• Why more organisations and consultants in India need to work towards sustainable mobility goals, requiring alternate green fuels like hydrogen and ethanol alongside EVs to support sustainable mobility initiatives.

You can read the complete report by Elle Farrell-Kingsley here: www.automotiveworld.com/articles/can-indias-ev-market-help-it-reach-net-zero-by-2070/