Mention
FICCI pushes for inclusion of battery swapping scheme under FAME-IIedit
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) has recommended inclusion of the battery swapping model of charging under the FAME-II scheme, to encourage the use of electric vehicles in the two and three-wheeler categories.
Kerala lures e-vehicle makersedit
A journey of a thousand steps, starts with a single step, as per a Chinese saying. Coming to Kerala, in order to fulfil the dream journey of having one million electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads by 2022, the state government took its first step by strengthening the EV eco-system in the state.
Kerala unveils roadmap for electric vehicle regimeedit
Taking the lead in bringing about an electric vehicle revolution, the Kerala government on Saturday announced a slew of initiatives, including tie-up with Swiss electric bus maker Hess AG to assemble and manufacture electric buses, agreements with public sector NTPC and two other companies for setting up electric charging infrastructure and pilot e-mobility zones in tourist spots, Secretariat and IT parks.
Is India’s automotive industry ready for an EV makeover?edit
Rahul Sharma cannot be accused of harbouring modest ambitions. “We will bring a complete disruption in India’s 21 million two-wheeler market,” says the man best known as the co-founder of mobile-devices-maker Micromax.
Industry
Policy on electric vehicles well-thought-out’edit
Countering the industry’s claims that the NITI Aayog proposal for transition to electric vehicles (EVs) was “unrealistic” and “ill-timed”, the think-tank’s Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar said it was a well-thought out policy to capitalise on the “sunrise industry” and that two -wheeler makers should work with the Aayog rather than paint an incorrect picture.
The future is electric: When a Niti Aayog consultation meet got heatededit
The government wants to make three-wheelers and two-wheelers (up to 150cc) compulsorily electric by 2023 and 2025, respectively. The industry has opposed the plan, citing there was no ground infrastructure for electric vehicles in the country. The goal can be achieved by disincentivising fossil fuel vehicles and giving incentives for EVs.
Haste makes waste: Niti Aayog’s proposal to transition to electric vehicles through a ban is a poor ideaedit
Air quality in large parts of India is poor. Clean air is a public good and initiatives towards that end deserve support. However, even in the pursuit of this public good, policy makers cannot afford to ignore a core economic principle: tradeoffs.
Govt must extend FAME II subsidies for battery swapping: FICCIedit
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) has demanded the government must include battery swapping model of charging under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME II) scheme of Department of Heavy Industry.
Government to announce incentive for EV infrastructure soonedit
Speaking at the recently held ETAuto Tech Summit, Anil Srivastava emphasised that electric vehicles are the focus area of the government and soon incentives may be announced to support its infrastructure.
Andhra Pradesh Government to Deploy 350 Electric Buses in Five Major Citiesedit
Close to 350 electric buses are set to be deployed in five major cities of Andhra Pradesh under a Rs 746-crore-project, the state’s Transport and Information and Public Relations ministry said. In the first phase of the project, buses will be deployed in cities including Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kakinada and Amaravati.
More room for autos in Delhi, but only electric onesedit
The Supreme Court appointed environment watchdog, EPCA, and the Centre are likely to back allowing more autorickshaws on Delhi roads when the apex court takes up the case. Both are likely to submit to the court that only electric autorickshaws should be allowed over and above the cap that has been fixed for conventional three-wheelers, sources said.
Govt wants petrol stations to charge your e-vehicleedit
The government is looking to put in place a framework for a mega battery manufacturing and charging infrastructure — including the use of petrol pumps for electric charging points — to push electric vehicles (EVs) in the country.
Electric mobility is India’s big opportunityedit
Fiscal incentives to promote Electric Vehicles, in the form of FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles), were launched in 2015 for a period of two years. These were later extended up to March, 2019. With its outlay of Rs 450 crore during the last four years, FAME I helped about 2.63 lakh electric/hybrid vehicles, including 1.4 lakh two-wheelers (E-2W) and 1.01 lakh four-wheelers (E-4W).
Electric vehicles will help in cutting imports and pollution: Nitin Gadkariedit
Nitin Gadkari has lined up mega plans in his second innings as the minister of road transport & highways. In an interview with Prerna Katiyar, the Nagpur MP, who now also heads the ministry of micro, small & medium enterprises, speaks about the lofty infrastructure targets of the government, the immediate agenda to revive stalled highway projects and his ambition to globalise products made by Indian small businesses to boost exports, among other themes
Kerala’s first electric vehicle charging station launched in Kochiedit
In a move to encourage the use of electric vehicles, an electric vehicle charging station was launched in Kochi on Saturday. The charging station has been set up at the outlet of Indian Oil United Fuels in Edapally. According to reports, this is the second electric vehicle charging station to be set up in south India after Hyderabad.
These startups are going all the way to reduce carbon emissionedit
Flipkart is planning to replace nearly 40% of its current fleet of delivery vans with electric vehicles (EVs) by March 2020, as part of its efforts to cut down on its carbon footprint. The ecommerce company said it will start with deploying 160 vans by 2019-end. Some of these EVs are already plying in the country’s capital of New Delhi.
International
Do all electric cars work the same?edit
Mansplainers are usually avoided at all costs. But, whatever your gender, when you need a new car and you’re auto-clueless, you need a mansplainer and that’s where David Linklater comes in.
Electricity billionaire building the Tesla of Thailandedit
IT’S THE epitome of a closed circuit: the utility helping to power one of South-east Asia’s biggest cities is building electric cars, batteries and charging stations for the nascent market, and then supplying the juice to keep them all running.
Electric cars: New vehicles to emit noise to aid safetyedit
New electric vehicles will have to feature a noise-emitting device, under an EU rule coming into force on Monday. It follows concerns that low-emission cars and vans are too quiet, putting pedestrians at risk because they cannot be heard as they approach.