Media
Delhi government signs two pacts to push electric vehicles in city
- January 20, 2022
Source: The Times of India
The Delhi government has signed two pacts with a central government subsidiary to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EV) in the national capital. While one pact will pave the way for installation of more charging and battery swapping stations at Cluster Scheme bus depots, the other will give loan interest relief to those buying electric autorickshaws, e-rickshaws and carts.
Hero Electric, Mahindra Group team up to manufacture electric vehicles
- January 20, 2022
Source: Business Standard
Hero Electric has struck up a five-year strategic partnership with the Mahindra Group, marking the first such deal between an electric vehicle (EV) maker and a traditional internal combustion engine company. The move comes at a time when EV sales in India have touched a record high. The joint efforts will also help in developing a platform approach to enable electrification of Mahindra’s Peugeot Motorcycles portfolio.
Charging up
- January 20, 2022
Source: The Hindu Business Line
India’s EV transition needs to be accompanied by a boost in charging infrastructure. India’s effort to populate the road space with as many electric vehicles as possible — according to NITI Aayog, EVs should account for sales of 80 per cent of two and three wheelers, 50 per cent of four wheelers and 40 per cent of buses by 2030 — must be accompanied by a rapid improvement in charging infrastructure.
Plan to shift inland waterways, army trucks to methanol in the works
- January 18, 2022
Source: The Economic Times
The government is working on a plan to use methanol as fuel for inland waterway transportation and in army trucks as part of a strategy to cut dependence on imported fuel. It has initiated talks with Pune-based Deccan Water Treatment Pvt. Ltd. to undertake the conversion of diesel engines so that they can run on methanol. Methanol is a low-carbon, hydrogen carrier fuel produced from high ash coal, agricultural residue, carbon dioxide from thermal power plants and natural gas.
Delhi: Draft policy pushes for up to 50% EVs in aggregators’ fleet by 2023
- January 16, 2022
Source: Hindustan Times
According to the draft policy, 10%of newly-onboarded two-wheelers and 5% of new four-wheelers will have to be EVs within three months of notification of the final policy. Subsequently, by March 31, 2023, 50% of all new two-wheelers and 25% of all new four-wheelers taken by aggregators and delivery services will have to be electric.
Delhi government sets EV targets for delivery services, app cabs
- January 16, 2022
Source: The Times of India
In the first such policy in the country, it will soon be mandatory for ride aggregators and delivery service providers in Delhi to have electric vehicles as new additions for a part of their fleet of cars and two-wheelers. The Delhi government announced that it was going to notify an 'Aggregator's policy to mandate EV fleets', which would make it a must for ride aggregators and delivery service providers to ensure that in the next three months, 10% of all new two-wheelers and 5% of all new cars they induct into their fleet are electric.
Revised guidelines for charging infrastructure for electric vehicles issued
- January 15, 2022
Source: The Hindu
The Union Power Ministry has released revised guidelines for charging infrastructure for electric vehicles to enable faster adoption by ensuring safe, reliable and affordable infrastructure. Among other things, the guidelines allow an individual or an entity to set up charging stations without the requirement of a licence provided they meet the technical, safetyand performance standards. They allow EV owners to charge their vehicles at their residence or offices using their existing electricity connections.
Gurugram varsity, EESL sign MoU to boost EV charging infra
- January 14, 2022
Source: ET Auto
To promote energy conservation and find new avenues for use of renewable energy, the Gurugram University signed MoU with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL). Besides sharing expertise in energy conservation, the university will explore ways to develop EV charging infrastructure and ways to implement state government schemes related to EV promotion.
Green mobility: IREDA launches scheme to finance battery storage, green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies
- January 12, 2022
Source: PV Magazine
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has launched a scheme to finance new and emerging technologies that promote and increase the usage of renewable energy in the transport sector. Under the scheme, it shall also provide finance for EV fleet owners/operators and charging Infrastructure owners—thus financing the entire value chain of green mobility.
Electric cabs gain momentum thanks to 65-75% lower operational cost versus diesel/ CNG cabs
- January 11, 2022
Source: The Economic Times
High cost of diesel and CNG have skewed the economics in favor of electric cabs in shared mobility with industry planning massive expansion even during the pandemic. Higher cost, inadequate charging infrastructure or lack of options in products are no longer seen as deal breakers.