Govt seeks policy advice, Maruti ‘changes game’, plans e-car, China e-cars steal US show

Govt on EV-only road, may change law to get e-chargers?

India’s planning body NITI Aayog has invited public suggestions as it drafts policy to migrate to only ‘zero emission vehicles’ by 2030. India may change its Electricity Act (2003) to boost the number of charging stations to meet its 2030 target. The government may also set up charging stations in partnership with private firms, as India currently has only 350 public EV chargers, compared to China’s 215,000. The country is also looking to be the first to have all-electric public transport and corporate fleets.

Karnataka mulls ‘smart poles’, no road tax for EVs in Goa

Karnataka plans to install over 250 ‘smart poles’ costing Rs.10 lakh each to charge EVs in the Huballi-Dharwad region. Meanwhile, Goa has exempted EVs from road tax to fight air pollution.

‘Won’t need’ state push for EVs by 2022

Automakers are counting the days of combustion engine. They say, if Lithium-ion battery prices fall to less that $100 per KwH by 2022, from the present $180, they ‘won’t need incentives’ to shift to commercial EVs.

Maruti’s ‘game changing’ e-car, what’s stopping Audi?

Maruti Suzuki India is ready to ‘change the game’ and shift to EVs. It’s planning an electric car, a lithium ion battery plant in Gujarat, and a charging network in partnership with its dealers. Audi is keen to launch EV in India by 2020 provided there’s charging infrastructure, while Volkswagen is ‘watching’ India closely. Indian auto makers’ lobby SIAM expects 40% of private vehicle sales to be all-EV by 2030.

Auto parts makers warn of job losses

Meanwhile, auto parts makers’ lobby (ACMA) has warned that 1.5 million people may lose job to a ‘sudden’ shift to EVs. They said the suppliers are investing heavily to meet BS-VI technology 2020 deadline for which they need 10 years to get the return.

EV sales to almost double in 2018?

EV sales will grow by 40% to touch 1.5 million in 2018 globally. China will lead the market followed by Europe (Germany in particular) and the USA.

Study: Carmakers must shift to EVs now, or perish

EVs will be as affordable as a regular car by 2022, and industry must shift now to survive, that’s the analysis by CDP. Over 30% of new car sales (potentially $1 trillion) are projected to be zero emission by 2030.

Chinese e-cars steal Vegas, Detroit shows

China’s $45,000 concept electric SUV, Byton, lured crowds with features including self-driving, voice recognition, rotating seats and a massive 49-inch long screen that can distract commuters to death. The Vegas and Detroit shows were abuzz with flashy Chinese e-cars backed with ‘ample funds’, but Nanjing-based ‘startup’ Byton is reportedly seeking $400 million in funding.

Can West afford to ignore Chinese e-cars?

Experts say Byton’s very first concept SUV is China’s alternative to Tesla X, and BMW X3. Backed by subsidies China’s e-carmakers such as BYD and Byton are transforming global market, threatening to oust combustion-engine car. Biggies like Daimler, Toyota, VW will become irrelevant, if they don’t catch up, experts warn. China’s domestic e-car sales are expected to cross 1 million in 2018, and 5 million by 2020. As Western buyers largely prefer Western cars, China has ‘shifted strategy’ from selling cars to selling car parts to Western companies.

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