Industry
Gas-based plants’ revival, EV infra on priority list of government in second inningsedit
Revival of gas-based power plants and putting up electric vehicle infrastructure are expected to be on the priority list of the new NDA government. The power ministry is expected to approach the union cabinet to get approval in the next 100 days for a subsidy mechanism to revive gas-based power projects, a senior government official said.
All battery-operated vehicles to have green number platesedit
All battery-operated vehicles will soon have the green number plates to distinguish them from other commercial and private ones. On the green plates, registration number will be marked in yellow and white depending on different categories of vehicles.
Swiss e-bus maker in talks with Kerala govt for setting up factoryedit
Swiss vehicle manufacturing major Hess AG has evinced interest in setting up an electric bus manufacturing unit in state. The company, which expressed interest after learning about the government’s electric vehicle policy and plans to switch over to electric vehicles soon, held discussions with chief secretary Tom Jose during the recent visit of the state’s delegation led by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to Switzerland.
Government sees red as electric vehicles fails to deliver mileage promiseedit
Government departments using the electric vehicles (EVs) from Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra are understood to be somewhat unhappy with the mileage of the vehicles. According to an official in one of the departments, while Tata Motors and M&M had claimed these would run for 130 km when fully charged, they are able to do just about 85 km. “One is worried about running them for too long,” the official told FE.
Competition
Electric vehicle journey to begin with hybrid technology in India: Hondaedit
Japanese auto major Honda will use hybrid vehicles as intermediates in the next two years in India before going for full electric vehicles (EVs) as it expects setting up of supporting infrastructure such as charging stations to take time, according to a senior company official.
International
Charging On Without A Plan In The UKedit
The UK government, like the eccentric Don Quixote, is charging on without a rational plan for charging infrastructure. What has been required since 2010 when the first viable EVs started to emerge is a central government plan and policy for charging infrastructure.
Poor range will hamper sales of electric cars ‘for a decade’edit
Most motorists will consider an electric car only when they can travel at least 300 miles on a single charge, according to a study. Poor battery range and concerns over a shortage of roadside chargers remain some of the biggest barriers to the mass adoption of green vehicles.