Bihar CM Trolled For Using Hyundai Ioniq Electric SUV With Diesel SUV Convoy [Video]

The Indian government is actively promoting EV adoption in the country by offering attractive tax cuts and other benefits. Many states have already announced hard-to-ignore waivers on EVs and we have also seen sustainable mobility being integrated into official state transport. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had previously adopted a Hyundai Ioniq 5 as his official car and is now being trolled by netizens for the same!

“Mr. Nitish Kumar, what’s the purpose of using an electric car when your entire convoy consists of BS IV diesel vehicles? @NitishKumar pic.twitter.com/ftNd7v2PnL

— Rattan Dhillon (@ShivrattanDhil1) December 9, 2024

A video shared on X (formerly Twitter) shows the Chief Minister arriving at what looks like an event, in his official vehicle- the IONIQ 5. He is being accompanied by his security convoy- consisting primarily of Mahindra Scorpios. These are older generation models, powered by diesel engines that are most likely BS4 compliant.

Rattan Dhillon, the X user who shared the video has put forward a relevant concern in the description. The caption reads “Mr. Nitish Kumar, what’s the purpose of using an electric car when your entire convoy consists of BS IV diesel vehicles?”. Rattan has voiced a valid concern. The Carbon emissions from the BS4 Scorpios could easily outsize the possible Carbon footprint reduction that the EV could bring to the table. This scenario thus dissolves the ‘shift towards eco-friendly transportation’ claims.

Nitish Kumar had switched to the IONIQ 5 early this year. In line with the government’s sustainability favouritism, Nitish Kumar had a personal preference for EVs as well. What interested him in the IONIQ 5 were its cutting-edge technology and the sustainability quotient. The Bihar CM used to travel in the Ambassador and Tata Safari, before making the shift to EVs.

Shifting the narrative to the present day, we see the ‘desire for sustainability’ falling apart with the convoy vehicles still being old Mahindras. Ideally, the minister should have upgraded the security convoy with ‘eco-friendly’ alternatives like MG Windsors or Tata Nexons. At least, he could have upgraded the convoy fleet to the latest BS6 Scorpio Classics. These would reduce the tailpipe emissions significantly. The shift to IONIQ 5 now seems more like a publicity/ promotional stunt than a thoughtful gesture.

The X post is getting much traction and diverse reactions from netizens. Most people seem to be unhappy with the forced shift to EVs. The comment section has someone cite the examples of public transport buses and trucks which are still running on diesel engines and are often poorly maintained, leading to more emissions, as a visible conflict to the governmental push for electric vehicles.

Another user explains the situation with an interesting (and funny) analogy. He says ‘It’s the same as going to the gym and then eating doughnuts afterwards’. Can you ever be more precise? We doubt…

You would now ask ‘ How do we do it the right way then? How do we make the transition to green energy?’ Well, EVs need to be inducted into government fleets. Government offices and buildings could use solar power for their electricity needs. This could also save tax payers’ money.

Hyundai IONIQ 5: What’s Special About Its Powertrain?

Hyundai assembles the IONIQ 5 EV in India. Unlike its KIA cousin- the EV6, which comes as CBU, it is priced more competitively. It comes with a 72.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 217 hp electric motor mounted on the rear axle. The powertrain claims to deliver an impressive range of 631 km per charge.