Specific
Going electric: The challengesedit
ELECTRIC vehicles have actually been around since the mid-19th century but the technology has not seen the kind of mass deployment that one would expect. The main reason for this, especially in a price-sensitive market like India, is the associated costs. Though battery costs have come down, and technology has improved overtime, the total cost of ownership of EVs continues to remain significantly higher than conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles.
Mention
AshokLeyland scouts for strategic ties in EV eraedit
Collaboration for big move in electria mobility Electric mobility is one area for which Ashok Leyland has a “big strategy”. It has already embarked on it with buses that use swappable batteries, which Dr Bhagavathula says is the first in the world. The battery cost in an electric bus can be as high as 75 percent of the vehicle’s cost. Since battery swapping removes a major part of an EV’s cost, it can boost adoption of EVs, believes Sun Mobility, Ashok Leyland’s battery swapping technology and service partner.
Industry
BHEL expands footprint in e-mobility businessedit
Bharat Heavy Electricals is setting up a network of solar-based Electric Vehicle Chargers (SEVC) on the Delhi-Chandigarh Highway. The chargers are located at the resorts of Haryana Tourism Corporation at Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat and Samalkha (Sonepat) on Delhi-Chandigarh highway.
India’s EV ride: What lies aheadedit
Amid distress calls over the slump in national sales figures, auto giants have also been voicing concern over a Niti Aayog proposal to push for full conversion to electric vehicles (EVs) for internal combustion engine (ICE) threewheelers by 2023, and two wheelers (for engines with or below 150 cc capacity) by 2025.
Busting the myths surrounding electric vehiclesedit
Amidst increasing concerns around air quality, the government has finally made it clear that both ICE (internal combustion engines) that run on fossil fuels and EVs shall co-exist in the market. This gives car manufacturers the freedom to focus on EVs, aligning with the government vision to put more and more EVs on the road in the next few years.
Delhi’s electric vehicle policy to include e-commerce companiesedit
The Delhi electric vehicle policy will focus on covering the urban freight sector, which largely includes e-commerce companies and private courier operators and depend on bikers who ensure doorstep delivery, senior government officials said on Friday.
Explained: What is the economics behind e-vehicle batteries?edit
Shifting gears in the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), the NITI Aayog, in May this year, proposed to ban the sale of all internal combustion engine (ICE) powered three-wheelers post March 2023. It also suggested that all new two-wheelers below 150cc sold after March 2025 should be electric. In consonance with these proposals, the Union Budget presented on July 5 announced tax incentives for early adopters.
RTC expert panel to submit merger report soonedit
The expert committee constituted to recommend the modalities for the merger of the A.P. State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) with the government will submit its final report to Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy this week. “We have suggested two options,” Chairman of the committee C. Anjaneya Reddy has said, without divulging the details.
Auto sector seeks cut in GST to help revive sales in festive seasonedit
An automobile industry body on Monday sought an immediate cut in the goods and services tax (GST) rate on vehicles to help revive sales during the crucial festive season. A lower tax rate would allow companies to reduce their vehicle prices, potentially attracting more buyers, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) said.
Government may reduce GST on automobiles: Sitharamanedit
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday indicated the government may cut GST automobiles in the near term. Currently, automobiles come under 28 per cent GST slab. “The automobile sector was in a transition phase to produce engines and components meeting BS-VI fuel norms (from the earlier BS-IV), which comes into effect from April 1, 2020,” Sitharaman said while responding to reporters here.
K’taka is the first state in India with vision to be EV capital of India:CMedit
“Today we have more than 20 policies for diverse sectors. We have recently announced the Electrical Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy 2017, the first state to do so with a vision to make Karnataka as the EV capital of India,” Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said.
UP to buy 600 electric buses, targets 10,000 for public transport by 2024edit
In order to accelerate its electric vehicles (EV) roadmap, the Yogi Adityanath government will soon float tenders for the supply of 600 electric buses for public transport across major cities in Uttar Pradesh. The buses are proposed to be deployed in Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Agra, Ghaziabad, Varanasi, Mathura, Gorakhpur and Shahjahanpur.
NTPC commissions its first Electric Vehicle charging stationedit
State-owned power generator NTPC Ltd today announced it has commissioned along with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) its first Electric Vehicle charging station at an IOC petrol pump in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The two companies have joined hands to set up many such charging stations. “This EV Charging station is the first in a series of such charging stations which have been planned across cities and highways,” the company said in a statement.
Government prepares array of rules as it looks to overhaul road mobilityedit
Aimed at overhauling India’s entire road mobility play, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is preparing a set of exhaustive rules on issues such as road safety, transportation, vehicle maintenance, insurance against third party risks, offences and penalties.
Tamil Nadu to unveil electric vehicle policy in three weeks, says transport secretaryedit
The state has finalised its electric vehicle policy and would unveil it within three weeks, said J Radhakrishnan, principal secretary to the state transport department, on Saturday. He said the state’s electric vehicle policy has incorporated the best features of those from other states which have already released them. He said it would have incentives for both manufacturers and users. He revealed this at the launch of the “Society for Smart E-Mobility”, a forum of automotive industrialists and institutions, in the city on Saturday.
Can India switch to electric vehicles in the near future?edit
The government’s big budgetary push clearly indicates its goal to promote the manufacture and sale of electric vehicles (EVs) in India in the near future. Major automakers like Hyundai and Mahindra are unveiling EV’s in India like Kona Electric, Mahindra e2o, etc. The newer e-versions are also gathering a lot of attention due to their futuristic and new designs. But, at some point in the future, when they will be less of a rarity, they will be just cars.
Competition
EV-makers lure buyers with new pricing modelsedit
India’s electric two-wheeler players are taking to innovative pricing models to mitigate the impact of high costs in a highly price-sensitive market. While last year saw Ather Energy announce subscription plans for end-to-end after-sales services, rival Revolt Intellicorp has taken it a notch further by allowing customers of its two new electric motorcycles to pay for them in monthly instalments.
Cost, Charging Infrastructure Big Challenges For Electric Cars: Maruti Suzukiedit
Maruti Suzuki India is apparently having trouble with its plans to bring its electric vehicle offerings in the country. While the company was poised to bring in an electric version of its hatchback – WagonR in India by next year, a senior executive of the company has now mentioned three roadblocks that the OEM is facing for that.
International
Economics of Electric Vehicles Mean Oil’s Days As A Transport Fuel Are Numberededit
The future is not looking bright for oil, according to a new report that claims the commodity would have to be priced at $10-$20 a barrel to remain competitive as a transport fuel. The new research, from BNP Paribas, says that the economics of renewable energy make it impossible for oil to compete at current prices.
Electric vehicles will forever change how cars lookedit
As automakers race to electrify their model lineups, the competition to stand out has never been greater. Luckily, thanks to electrification, the opportunities to develop new designs are abundant. But if automakers want to succeed, designers need to seize these new opportunities and start developing the cars of the future.