Industry
2-wheelers, e-rickshaws lead EV adoption as infra remains pooredit
While electric four-wheelers have been hampered by the near-absence of charging stations and a lack of options, not to mention a huge price gap with fossil fuel-burners, sales of e-scooters and three-wheelers have been surging. According to the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), EV sales doubled in volume in 2017-18 compared to the previous year, and is maintaining momentum. EV sales this year have already achieved the 2017-18 level, which saw 56,000 units sold.
NITI Aayog in the driver’s seat for ambitious EV rollout planedit
NITI Aayog, the government’s apex policy think tank, has been tasked with rolling out an ambitious electric vehicle (EV) plan, pushing the department of heavy industries (DHI) into a tertiary role for a policy that is aimed at projecting India as a global torchbearer of green vehicles. The DHI under the ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises is the nodal authority for the automotive sector and was also in charge of drafting and implementing the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles (FAME) scheme.
Competition
‘Ready to deliver any EV to Indian market’edit
With its all-electric SUV Kona set to launch in 2019, YK Koo, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India tells Jonathan Ananda that the firm is ready to take on the new market. Excerpts: What is your plan in the EV space for India? We will be strengthening our lineup with nine new models, which will include two facelifts, two new segment vehicles, four full model change and an electric vehicle in 2018-2020. We are fully prepared to deliver every type of electric vehicle including hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles for Indian consumers. We will launch India’s first electric SUV by next year.
Mahindra to supply 100 EVs to Thane Municipalityedit
Volvo Cars aims to have 1 million electric cars on road by 2025edit
Volvo Cars is on an electrification journey and the company has the ambition of having one million electrified cars on road by 2025, where India needs to be a big part of it, said Charles Frump, managing director, Volvo India.”We expect India to be an important part of this one-million-cars target. We at Volvo firmly believe that road to full battery electric vehicles runs through plug-in hybrids,” Frump said. The company is also gearing up to drive in four additional plug-in hybrid models in India over the next three years as part of its plans to build a portfolio of environment-friendly vehicles.
International
Chinese startup claims to have cracked solid-state batteries, begun productionedit
Solid-state batteries have been heralded as the enigmatic next-generation of the lithium-ion battery. In the race between technology companies to build a working prototype and begin mass production, a Chinese startup claims to have struck gold. The technology of the battery has been shrouded in mystery for years, with companies like Dyson, BMW and carmaker Fisker a few of the many big names working hard at making solid-state batteries.