Mention
Entrepreneurs working overtime to electrify auto industry but major bumps remainedit
It’s a buzzy day at the IIT Madras campus in Chennai. Electric app-based threewheelers are doubling up as intra-campus cabs. Several researchers are testing the batteries onboard the vehicles. They are trying to make the Lithium ion cells that power these batteries deliver more energy, and to extend the lifecycle of these cells beyond their current run-times.
Industry
Stakeholders prepare for switch over to electric vehiclesedit
As the ongoing crisis in automobile industry has hastened the process of switching over from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, car manufacturers, ride-sharing companies and state governments have begun to put together plans for a smooth transition. Earlier this week, Tata Motors announced Ziptron for personal use shifting its strategy away from taxis and commercial fleet.
Auto industry has to find its own balance to enhance demand: SIAMedit
Industry body SIAM on Saturday said the auto industry would have to “find its own balance” to boost demand, with the GST Council declining to cut rates for the sector. “The auto industry was very hopeful of GST reduction. It is clear that there is no reduction of GST rate on vehicles from 28 per cent to 18 per cent,” Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) President Rajan Wadhera said in a statement.
HESCOM to set up 100 EV charging stations in 7 Karnataka districtsedit
In a bid to bring the e-mobility revolution to India by 2030, the Union Government is focussing on increasing the sale of electric vehicles (EVs) across the country. The Centre, however, is yet to frame a policy, in this direction. But Karnataka, which already has a policy in place, has now started the process of identifying locations to set up EV charging stations.
Scooters India strategic sale on hold amid auto slump, EV planedit
Strategic disinvestment of public sector Scooters India Ltd (SIL) could be deferred yet again while monetisation plan of its non-core land will be carried out. While the primary reason for extending sale deadline is the muted sentiment in the auto sector, the government wants the struggling company’s electric vehicle (EV) business to grow. The Ministry of Heavy Industries has recommended to extend the disinvestment deadline to April 2020 in view of its EV plan.
Delhi government looks towards Europe to study electric bus modelsedit
As the Delhi government gears up for introducing 1,000 electric buses in the national capital by 2020, it is planning to study the European model of electric buses, sources said. Delhi Transport Minister, Kailash Gahlot, who has been busy visiting the manufacturing sites of TATA and Ashok Leyland for procurement of the low floor cluster buses, is scheduled to visit European countries including France and Belgium.
Electric buses to hit Warangal roads soonedit
The denizens in Warangal city will have a respite from belching black clouds of smoke emitted from the diesel-run buses with the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) is all set to ply battery-powered electric buses soon.
Tax incentive for new firms could spark ‘make in India’ for EV partsedit
India’s fledgling electric vehicle (EV) industry is likely to receive a shot in the arm with the slashing of corporate tax on new manufacturing companies. With most makers of electric vehicles and their components planning their investments for India, they would be encouraged to accelerate their plans for local manufacturing with the announcements made by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The steps are expected to propel domestic production, specifically in producing lithium-ion batteries, charging equipment, electrical and electronic parts. Producers of hybrids and even conventional internal combustion vehicles will also benefit.
How Delhi can become electric vehicle capital of Indiaedit
To realize its dream to have clean, green and people-centric mobility solutions, Delhi may need to deploy nearly 35,000 electric and accessible passenger vehicles, at least 1,000 electric vehicles for last-mile connectivity and several hundred public charging and swapping stations in the next year, a first- of-its-kind report has stressed. With one of the world’s largest CNG-propelled bus fleets and an expanded metro-rail network covering 373 kms, the Delhi government has now embarked on its next phase of journey – clean, shared and people-centric mobility solutions.
Competition
Blacksmith Electric starts accepting dealership enquiries from more than 700 districts in Indiaedit
Blacksmith Electric is fast forwarding its efforts to set up shop in India. The Chennai-based start-up has indigenously built is first electric two-wheeler cruiser motorcycle as well as scooter prototypes. The brand is inviting dealership enquiries from all over India. At the first stage, 700 districts are being targeted. Currently, more than six applications have been received and half of them are from abroad – from Spain and Mexico. Moreover, Blacksmith Electric at the moment is taking in the applications. The dealership requirements will be discussed with the partners at a later stage.
Polarity launches smart PMVs, plans electric car in a yearedit
Pune-based e-mobility start-up Polarity on Friday unveiled its entire range of smart personal mobility vehicles (PMVs), offering six models with price ranging between Rs 38,000 and Rs 1.05 lakh ( ex-showroom). Powered by Brushless DC Motors (BLDC), the bikes which will to be available in sports and executive series, were introduced in the presence of union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Arvind Sawant.
International
Why Americans Don’t Buy Electric Cars (Hey, The Tesla Model 3 Isn’t That Popular)edit
Most Americans aren’t interested in electric vehicles. That’s a cold fact. I won’t cite a bunch of statistics (that may seem encouraging but actually are not). Just look around you. 2020 is almost here but it’s still wall-to-wall gas cars. And it’s not just inertia. All those new cars are gas too.
Germany to raise incentives for buying electric carsedit
The German government will raise incentives for buying electric cars under its new climate plan, as well as raising road tolls for trucks from 2023 and pumping money into rail operator Deutsche Bahn, a climate policy document seen by Reuters showed. All proceeds from a new carbon dioxide (CO2) pricing system will be re-invested in climate protection or given back to citizens in form of financial relief, the document showed.
Amazon to add 100,000 electric delivery vehicles by 2030edit
As global warming intensifies, tech giants are taking bold steps to undo the environmental damage. One of the steps taken by e-commerce giant Amazon is adding electric vehicles to its delivery fleet. In its official release, Amazon revealed that it plans to go net-zero carbon across its businesses by 2040, a decade ahead of the Paris Accord’s goal of 2050. To accelerate this mission, Amazon has ordered 100,000 fully-electric delivery vehicles, the largest order ever of electric delivery vehicles.
GM electric car push could mean fewer and lower paying jobsedit
If U.S. consumers ever ditch fuel burners for electric vehicles, then the United Auto Workers union is in trouble. Gone would be thousands of jobs at engine and transmission plants across the industrial Midwest, replaced by smaller workforces at squeaky-clean mostly automated factories that mix up chemicals to make batteries.
Electric cars: Low earners may never get to drive oneedit
Germany’s autobahns appear to be packed full of brand new Audis and Volkswagens, but nearly half of all cars are more a decade old. The country has never seen such an aged fleet of vehicles, according to the KBA automotive watchdog. Nor has the United States, where the average car is almost 12 years old.