Right here in India, EV emissions have become a hot topic, thanks to Nithin Kamath’s recent claim on X on June 25, 2025. The Zerodha founder said electric vehicles (EVs) pollute more than petrol cars (ICE vehicles) because of their production emissions, pointing to Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) batteries and mining issues. But hold on—he’s got it wrong, and it’s causing a stir that could mislead millions. Let’s dig into the facts, call out the misinformation, and uncover a bigger game at play. Stick with me!
Nithin’s argument leans on NMC battery production, which does pack a punch—emitting 79–82 kgCO2e per kWh, as per a 2023 PMC study. But here’s the kicker: India has moved on! Most EVs here, like the Tata Nexon EV, Mahindra BE 6 and Mahindra XEV 9e et al. now rock Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries, which churn out just 54–69 kgCO2e per kWh—20–30% less than NMC, according to the International Energy Agency’s 2024 Global EV Outlook. The graph from the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance provides a clear depiction of the shifting dynamics between LFP and NMC batteries from 2016 to 2022. Nithin’s NMC focus is outdated for India’s EV scene, and that’s a big miss!
Nithin Kamath isn’t just some random voice—he’s a financial rockstar with a huge following. His X post, with over 1.6k likes at the time of writing this article, has sparked debates, and now mainstream media like The Mint are jumping in, spreading the idea that EVs are “dirtier” than petrol cars. This is dangerous! For the average Indian family thinking of switching to an EV to save on fuel and cut pollution, this can plant seeds of doubt. With his clout, Nithin’s words carry weight, and when media amplifies it, it risks pushing people back to petrol cars—just when India needs to go green. It’s a classic case of influence gone wrong!
In my earlier blog on busting this very myth I did the math on lifecycle CO2 emissions over 1.5 lakh km. I took a tough stance on EVs (higher emissions) and went easy on petrol cars (lower emissions), yet EVs still came out 14.7% cleaner—32.4 tCO2e versus 38.0 tCO2e. With realistic tweaks (like India’s grid getting cleaner by 2025), the gap grows to 23.6%, with EVs at 30.5 tCO2e and ICE at 39.9 tCO2e. These numbers, based on LFP batteries and India’s context, smash Nithin’s claim. EVs are the way forward, not the polluters he suggests!
This feels like more than a slip-up. Nithin’s post lines up with arguments from the anti-EV lobby—think fossil fuel giants and old-school automakers who thrive on petrol sales. They’ve fought green shifts before, like lobbying against EV incentives in the US, as E&E News by POLITICO noted “What’s behind the Republican hatred of EVs?”. Are they using influential figures like Nithin as mouthpieces to slow India’s 30% EV sales target by 2030? Mainstream media’s hype only adds fuel, turning a flawed tweet into a trending narrative. It’s a clever trick to stall progress, but we can’t let it win!
Nithin might mean well, raising mining concerns, but his data doesn’t fit India’s LFP-driven EV world. As a leader, he should double-check facts before speaking—especially when his words shape opinions. Media needs to dig deeper than a single post before headlines fly. We, the people, must demand the truth! EVs with LFP batteries beat petrol cars in emissions, and India’s green future depends on embracing them. Share this on X with #EVTruth, comment below with your thoughts, and follow me on X @evelectree for more. Let’s drown out the noise with facts and drive change together! 🌱⚡
Being a celebrity doesn't make one jack of all trades. Nitin should understand his influencing position before spreading any misinformation.
26, June 2025
Well said Sir!
Suhail Gulati
Suhail Gulati is the founder of ElecTree and an economist by training. He holds a Master's degree in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics and has worked in credit, retail banking, and financial stress testing at Barclays and American Express. He founded ElecTree in 2023 — building it into India's dedicated platform for 4-wheeler EV data, sales analysis, and original reporting. His work sits at the intersection of economic analysis and electric mobility — bringing a banker's rigour to a sector that deserves it.