Mention
When governments dream of electric cars (Comment)edit
Since coming to power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced one green energy initiative after the other. One by one, however, these have turned out to be red herrings that have succeeded only in drawing attention away from technologies that can deliver the required non-fossil fuel energy. His first commitment, to set up 100,000 MW of solar power generating capacity by 2022, has got off to a slow start: 2,133 MW of generating capacity was added in 2015, and a little under 4,000 MW in 2016
Publication: Business Standard
Industry
With solar modules tax rates ratified to 5%, here lies the road aheadedit
Revenue Secretary Haskmukh Adhia, earlier this week, clarified that the solar modules will fall under the 5 percent tax bracket of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) and said that an official statement is be likely to be made on June 3 at the next GST council meeting. The initial rate announcement was met with an uproar by the industry last week as solar modules were placed under the 18 percent tax bracket. It would have had a major disruptive effect on the solar industry, as noted by renewable energy market research firm Bridge to India (BTI), where infrastructure with the potential to provide 10 gigawatts (GW) worth of energy would be affected.
Publication: Money Control
Hop on board: Govt hopes privatisation will help electrify India’s busesedit
The BJP-led NDA government is pulling out all stops to achieve its all-electric dream for mobility. Government bigwigs like Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal have made it clear that they want clean vehicle to run on Indian roads and they want it to happen as soon as possible. “We are going to make electric vehicles self-sufficient like Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA). The idea is that by 2030, not a single petrol or diesel car should be sold in the country,” he had earlier said. Such rush comes as no surprise as air pollution has become a menace which claims 1.2 million lives in the country every year, as per a Greenpeace India report.
Publication: Money Control
Clean Motion India Aiming For Rs 1,000 Crore Topline By 2020edit
Clean Motion India, the 100 percent subsidiary of Clean Motion AB, Sweden, is engaged in the development and manufacture of electric vehicles. The company has rolled out its three-wheeled electric “pods” called the Zbee, which has been certified in the L5 category by International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT) and is gaining widespread acceptance. L5 category is a three wheeled motor vehicle with maximum speed exceeding 25 kmph and engine capacity exceeding 25 cc if fitted with a thermic engine, or motor power exceeding 0.25 kW if fitted with electric motor.
Publication: BW Business World
Car sales steady in May, though GST uncertainty may impact June numbersedit
Car sales maintained a healthy growth trajectory in May, a month that saw the government announce the much-awaited GST duty rates that saw larger SUVs and sedans becoming cheaper even as hybrids would turn out to be expensive. While luxury makers have announced price cuts, uncertainty still remains on the direction the mainline carmakers will take in pricing. This can impact the volumes in June.
Publication: The Times of India
China can help India achieve all-electric cars fleet by 2032edit
Saying China can help New Delhi electrify all vehicles by 2032, a Chinese journalist on Wednesday said it will be in the Indian people’s interests if Chinese firms set up plants in India. “Any efforts to raise trade protectionism barriers would be counter-productive,” said Hu Weijia of the state-run Global Times. In a commentary titled “India should not block Chinese firms from catering to demand for electric cars”, Hu said New Delhi’s ambition to promote the use of electric vehicles would probably lead to another wave of investment
Publication: India Today