India: Economic survey tables factors holding back EVs, NITI gives automakers mere 2 weeks for EV roadmap

India’s latest economic survey has found that the country’s pace of EV adoption is being held back due to three key factors: lack of charging infrastructure, high prices of batteries and the time needed to charge EVs. The survey was tabled in the Parliament on July 4 and also calls for more investment to fast-track the rollout of a nation-wide fast charging network. 

The Centre has also announced tax deductions of up to Rs. 1.5 lakh on loans to purchase electric cars for private use — in the central budget — regardless of the cost and category of the vehicle.  

NITI Aayog, on the other hand, remains defiant against automakers’ insistence on a slower, market forces-driven approach to e-mobility. It has given them a mere two weeks to table their roadmaps for switching to 100% EV production post-2025 (for two-wheelers), and has said that the well thought-out approach allows the automakers adequate time to recover their investments in the IC-engined variants. 

DTC orders 1,000 new electric buses, Kerala targets 1 million EVs by 2022

Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is planning to get 1000 electric buses — over and above the Delhi government’s plan to introduce 1000 electric buses. The city’s government has also launched a pilot project on using EVs for freight deliveries — under which 1,000 EVs will be deployed in the city over one year to deliver orders by services such as Amazon, Zomato and Blue Dart Express.

The state of Kerala too will deploy at least a million EVs on its roads by 2022 — of which 3,000 will be electric buses, 200,000 will be electric two-wheelers and 1,000 will be goods carriers. Its capital city of Trivandrum is also likely to get 100% electric public transport within 12 months, while Andhra Pradesh is eyeing 350 e-buses for five of its cities at the cost of $110 million. 

Beijing to replace taxis with 20,000 electric cabs

Beijing’s municipal council has said the city’s gasoline powered taxis will be replaced with 20,000 electric cabs within two years. Shenzen, in China, is already ‘electrifying’ its taxi fleet and Beijing’s plan is aimed at improving the city’s infamous air quality — where there has been notable progress of late. 

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