In what can be termed as a major setback to Mahindra & Mahindra’s vision of expanding its electric vehicle sales, the company has stopped selling electric cars in the UK market, claims a Reuters report. In addition, Mahindra UK as a company too is in the process of winding its operations within an undisclosed period of time. The development comes in less than a year of launching the e2o electric car in the market. Although the company considered the UK and many European markets positive for adopting electric vehicle technology, sales have been far too low.

Publication: The Financial Express

Institute of Taxation & Accounting Professionals (iTAP) in association with Efftronics will organise a two-day national symposium on ‘Smart cities- challenges and opportunities’ at Hotel Fortune Murali Park here from May 5, Efftronics managing director D Ramakrishna has said. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Ramakrishna said that the two-day national symposium was aimed at creating awareness among government, industry and academia on various challenges and opportunities available in smart cities arena with latest technological trends like internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), big data, analytics and mobile applications.

Publication: The New Indian Express

India has big plans for electric vehicles. In fact, India wants to go all electric by 2030 with no sale of petrol and diesel cars. And for the first time, the government actually looks serious about it too. It had directed ISRO to share its lithium-ion battery technology with the private sector. There was also a National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 that envisaged incentives for manufacturers of electric vehicles, creating charging infrastructure and promoting research in battery technology.

Publication: India Times

Brookfield Asset Management Inc., Canada’s largest alternative asset manager, will look for renewable energy opportunities in India as the country seeks to reduce its reliance on coal. “It’s looking for a way to create both domestic sources of power and reduce pollution,” Sachin Shah, chief executive officer of Brookfield Renewable Partners LP, said on a conference call Wednesday. “So you’ve got strong government support. All of that fits in with our thesis that it could be a really great market for us to invest in over the next 50 years.”

Publication: The Financial Express

The rapid deployment of renewable energy projects across several States in recent times has thrown State utilities’ power calculations out of gear, forcing them to rework their strategies. A tepid growth in power demand in several States, along with the availability of cheaper power in exchanges and improved inter/intra regional power evacuation networks, have driven State planners to put fossil fuel projects on hold and revisit power purchase agreements (PPAs) to capitalise on falling power prices.

Publication: The Hindu Business Line

Electric buses may soon be available for as low as ₹95 lakh, said Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping. “While electric buses were available for ₹2.5 crore till a few days ago, there was a presentation, according to which we are going to get electric buses for ₹95 lakh,” Gadkari said at a logsitics event.

Publication: The Hindu Business Line