India: Stiff EV localisation targets from April 1, powertrain import duties from 2020

From April 1 stiff new localisation targets will go into effect for EVs manufactured in India. The targets will mandate that to avail subsidies under FAME-II, 40% of an e-bus’s components must be sourced locally. The figure rises to 50% for all other EVs.

Also, only lithium-ion battery powered buses will be eligible for subsidies – at Rs20,000/kWh for each bus. All other vehicles, including plug-in and strong hybrids (vehicles with large on-board batteries and motors) will receive Rs10,000 per kWh of battery capacity.

The new rules have been mandated to boost domestic EV-ecosystem manufacturing, and include a 15% import duty on EV powertrains from April 2020. Import duties on batteries will also be raised from 5% today to 15% from April 2021. However, this may raise the prices of electric two wheelers, since vehicles meant for private customers are not eligible for subsidies for FAME-II.

Pune suburb launches shared e-scooters pilot to fight air pollution

The upcoming smart city of Pimpri-Chinchwad (a suburb of Pune, Maharashtra) has launched a pilot project on shared e-scooters, with 20 e-scooters provided by Bangalore-based company Leap. The project’s objective is to reduce the city’s air pollution, and 60 additional e-scooters may be introduced if the pilot is successful.

Each scooter runs for 60km on a single charge, and charging points have been set up at the local BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) station.

VW upgrades target from 15 to 22 million EVs, aims 100% carbon offsets by 2050

Volkswagen has upgraded its 10-year target for EVs and will now aim to build 22 million new EVs, instead of 15 million. Additionally, it has opened up its Modular Electric Toolkit (MEB) platform to other automakers to push for more EV production – particularly for individual mobility.

While still plagued by its diesel scandal, VW has turned its focus around and aims to become the global leader in EV sales. It also aims to go 100% carbon-neutral in all its operations by 2050 – including administration – by drawing more renewable power and offsetting CO2 emissions where possible.

Ireland’s electric car sales shoot up 541%

Ireland has reported a sharp 541% jump in year-on-year EV sales for January – February 2019. This comes despite sales of traditional cars having fallen by 12% for the same period, with one industry editor saying the Irish are increasingly moving away from diesel cars.

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