‘Skepticism’ amid India’s EV U-turn, EESL orders another 10,000 EVs, China’s colossal EV ‘disruption’

Government’s latest U-turn of no EV policy, but only action plan, have added to skepticism about EV growth in India. But state-run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) plans to order 10,000 more EVs. There’s more demand from states: Andhra Pradesh wants 10,000 EVs, Gujarat 4,000, Maharashtra 2,000. Two 10,000 EV tenders in less than a year, is good e-mobility for some.

But EV lobby group Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) is looking for clarity. SMEV (Hero Electric, Okinawa Scooters, Mahindra and Mahindra and Tata Motors) want special tax structure for EVs to continue. Transport minister expects electric mobility in full force in another decade.

Automakers’ lobby ‘can’t escape EV megatrend’

Experts say Indian automakers’ lobby, blocking EVs, risk disruption by Chinese EVs. Like solar, China is investing massively in EVs and battery storage, setting a ‘megatrend’. Experts say India should strategically use it to its advantage.

Charging points for electric vehicles at railway stations soon

Meanwhile, the Railways plans to provide EV charging stations at its parking lots. To begin with, fast-charging DC points capable of charging 10 cars simultaneously in the parking lots of New Delhi and Nizamuddin stations. The Railways is also phasing out diesel engines with electric locos and promoting solar and wind energy gradually.

$1 billion to create battery swap ecosystem

Lithion Power, a Delhi-based EV battery service plans to invest around $1billion in swapping stations. Currently, it operates 5 swapping stations – where users can swap their close-to-discharge batteries for a fully-charged one -strictly focused on public transport electric vehicles. A daily charge costs between Rs 75-300. One battery runs an average 70-100 km.

Mahindra & Mahindra to invest Rs 900 crore more into e-vehicles

The Mahindra Group plans to invest Rs 900 crore in EVs over the next four years, which should ramp up its first installed capacity to 5,000 units a month.

2025 ‘turning point’ for electric cars

Electric cars will remain more expensive than petrol or diesel cars until 2025 predicts Nissan’s most senior executives Daniele Schillaci. 2025 will be the turning point where the cost of EV and internal combustion engine, will be the same. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi will launch 12 new electric models by 2022. Meanwhile, Porsche, Audi will develop joint electric car platform to save costs.

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