Mention
Evolution Aheadedit
There are also new names in the pure-electric space like Revolt Motors – headed by Rahul Sharma (co-founder of Micromax), Sun Mobility – co-founded by Chetan Maini (founder of Reva electric), Sahara Evols – headed by Subrata Roy. Companies like Ather Energy, Hero Electric, Twenty Two KYMCO, Okinawa Autotech and Tork Motors, who already established their presence in the nascent electric vehicle space, are now developing new-generation offerings with longer riding and driving range, swappable batteries and also a well spread EV charging network.
A billion to back a billion-dollar ideaedit
“Creating an open architecture infrastructure for accelerating e-mobility is definitely the next big thing, but the idea is not going to be limited to a product—it will encompass the entire mobility ecosystem, involving multiple stakeholders across OEMs.”
Industry
Centre Nod To NMMT For 100 More E-busesedit
The central government has sanctioned an additional 100 electric buses for Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport. NMMT recently received one electric bus from the first lot of 10 buses that it is to get from a total of 30 buses. Former municipal commissioner Ramaswamy N had written to the central government, seeking 200 electric buses under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric (and Hybrid) Vehicles (FAME) scheme. NMMT received a letter this week about the sanctioned 100 buses.
Delhi: How your green ride is turning air greyedit
Delhi has over 1.5 lakh e-rickshaws. They are eligible for government subsidy, being considered an environment-friendly mode of last-mile connectivity, but may actually not be as green as thought.
Auto industry welcomes government steps to revive salesedit
Senior executives of automobile manufacturing companies and various lobby groups have welcomed the steps announced by the union government on Friday to arrest the downturn in the sector. Most believe the liquidity situation at both the dealer and customer end will ease after the recent announcements.
I am the minister, NITI Aayog does not have authority to set EV deadline: Gadkariedit
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highway of India, Nitin Gadkari has cleared the air that there will no ban on petrol and diesel vehicles in the country. He further added that the government has not set any deadline for automakers to switch to electric vehicles. “I am the minister, NITI Aayog does not have the authority to set EV deadline,” said Gadkari at the Mindmine summit. Gadkari’s viewpoint seems to differ from Niti Aayog’s ambitious plan for a transition to electric mobility.
NITI Aayog at the forefront of Centre’s move to promote electric vehiclesedit
The Centre’s primary think tank NITI Aayog has been at the receiving end, mostly on issues linked to electric vehicles (EVs), over the last few days. If Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday that it was the mandate of his ministry and not that of NITI Aayog to take a call on vehicle technology, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had earlier stated that the government viewpoint did not always match that of the think tank.
West Bengal planning to introduce policy for EV charging stationsedit
West Bengal Urban Development Ministry is planning to introduce policy for electric vehicle charging stations. West Bengal government is also planning to introduce 500 electric buses under the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles in India) phase II and tenders have been floated for this.
Competition
EV push is not endgame for oil industry: HPCL CMDedit
MK Surana, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), said electric vehicles will not be a threat to the oil industry “at least for the next 10 years” as it will snatch away only a part of the “incremental demand” and “not disrupt the existing demand”.
Pawan Munjal Planning To Invest In Ola Electricedit
Ola Electric is soon going to get a new Billionaire investor who also happens to be one of the most eminent personalities in the Indian auto industry. According to a news report published by Mint, Pawan Munjal- Chairman of Hero MotoCorp India is in talks with Ola to invest in its electric mobility venture. After Ratan Tata- Chairman Emeritus of Tata Group, Munjal will be the second big investor from the auto industry who will be personally investing in Ola electric.
Toyota to keep selling diesel models in India as it expects demand to continueedit
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is planning to continue to sell diesel models in the country even as prices of such vehicles are expected to go up significantly with the upcoming BS-VI emission norms from April 1 next year, a top company official has said.
Amara Raja launches EV Battery charging/swapping stationsedit
In a bid to promote India’s move towards EV adoption, Amara Raja has launched EV battery charging / swapping stations along with a fleet of e-Autos here on Friday evening. The initiative is undertaken in collaboration with Tirupati Municipal Corporation, as a part of its smart city program, the Company said in a release here.
International
Access Rather Than Demand Is A Big Issue For Most EVsedit
A common thread spun by defenders of the internal combustion engine is that there’s no demand for electric vehicles. That’s simply not true, there is in fact an underserved demand for electric cars because they aren’t easily accessible.
Europe’s Auto Finances Under Threat As Electric Era Startsedit
The era of the electric car will kick off at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month after many false dawns, but the European industry in general and the German one in particular face a wide ranging assault on profits from an imminent recession, tariff wars, Brexit, spending on new technology, and the existential threat of massive EU fines for infractions of CO2 regulations.
New electric car battery technology could allow vehicles to be recharged in six minutesedit
A new battery technology company is preparing to commercialise new technology which could lead to rapid charging times. Echion Technologies, the Sawston-based battery specialist born out of Cambridge University, is looking to bring the battery tech to both smartphones and electric cars. The firm claims that the recharging times could drop to as little as six minutes. Currently, rapid charging times are around 45-minutes or in some exceptions 30-minutes for a decent amount of range.