Ola says India not ready for 4-wheeler EVs, raises funds from Ratan Tata

Ride hailing service Ola has said it feels India is not yet ready for 4-wheeler EVs. Instead, it feels mass adoption will be driven by e-bikes for food deliveries and e-rickshaws. The opinion is based partly on disappointing results from its e-taxi pilot in Nagpur, which had drivers complaining about long downtimes for recharging and high operating costs.

However, the Chairman Emeritus of the Tata Group, Ratan Tata, has invested an unknown amount in Ola’s e-mobility initiative. Ola is running multiple e-mobility pilots across India and the investment could symbolise Tata’s confidence in India’s upcoming EV ecosystem and be an extension to the Tata Group’s exit from new coal power.

CII: FAME II could cut transport emissions by 37%, need strategic sourcing of raw material

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has stated the Indian road transport sector’s energy needs could be lowered by 64% and its carbon emissions by 37% by 2030 under the FAME II scheme. The comments are based on a government study and if achieved, the figures may lower India’s dependence on oil imports – which is currently at an all time high of 83.7%.

CII has, however, stressed the need to boost local manufacturing capacities and employability skills, and the need to strategically source raw materials. In 2017, India had imported li-ion batteries worth $150million – predominantly from China – but it is looking to shrink its imports and set up its own battery manufacturing capacities.

Germany unveils electric highways for trucks, Sweden tests ‘charge as you drive’ for EVs

A 10-km test track has been unveiled in Germany where diesel-guzzling trucks can run purely on battery power. The trucks connect to overhead electricity cables that charge their onboard batteries and the operation is possible at speeds up to 90 kmph. The Siemens-developed system could massively reduce the trucks’ CO2 and NOx emissions.

Sweden, on the other hand, is testing inductive charging for EVs. The 1.6k-m Smart Road Gotland, which houses inductive charging pads and EVs equipped with necessary hardware, could stay charged or even recharge their batteries by simply driving along over the track. If successful, the concept could eliminate range anxiety and EVs’ heavy onboard battery packs.

EVgo goes 100% renewables, DPD Ireland commits to EVs for all deliveries

USA’s largest fast-charging network provider EVgo has announced it will run all its chargers on 100% renewable energy. This would further reduce the country’s transport sector emissions – which currently account for 30% of USA’s GHG emissions.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s largest parcel delivery service, DPD, will invest €3.2million in switching to an all-electric delivery fleet. All delivery vehicles in central Dublin must be electric by 2019, and DPD is executing a similar project in Hamburg, Germany.

Los Angeles targets 100% zero emission cars by 2050

Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti has announced the city’s very own version of the “Green New Deal” that aims for 100% zero-emissions vehicles by 2050. The plan will include all vehicles – including school buses and garbage trucks – and will hike LA’s EV percentages from 1.4% in 2018 to 25% by 2025, 80% by 2035 and 100% by 2050.

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