Media
Pandemic likely to delay penetration of electric vehicles: Ind-Ra
- October 23, 2020
Source: The Economic Times
The coronavirus pandemic is expected to delay the penetration of electric vehicles in India, as low affordability and the government's priority on reviving existing conventional automobile industry shift the focus away from EVs in the interim, according to rating firm Ind-Ra. The passenger vehicles segment of e-mobility will face a setback, as consumers would be wary to buy a costlier EV than an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, while original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) would refrain from incurring high Capex, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) said in a statement.
Piaggio launches Ape' E-City electric vehicle
- October 21, 2020
Source: Business World
Piaggio Vehicles has launched its new electric vehicle, Ape’ E-City for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode market in Kerala. The e-vehicle is powered by advanced Lithium-ion batteries. The swappable battery concept is being brought in association with Sun mobility, a provider of electric mobility battery technology. Customers can experience an app-enabled eco-system to check the battery state of charge, locate swap stations, recharge batteries instantly with no waiting time, etc.
Hydrogen gaining traction for storage
- October 19, 2020
Source: The Financial express
India aims to reduce fossil fuel-based emissions by building renewable energy capacity and promoting the uptake of electric vehicles. The cost of such a transition remains unaffordable for many Indian consumers. Among the avenues being explored by the government to circumvent the problem and reduce dependence on imported products is the use of hydrogen technology to store electricity that can run vehicles and balance power systems, with such batteries being cheaper and more efficient than the lithium-ion batteries in use at present. Green hydrogen or hydrogen produced from renewable energy has been cited as the next ‘clean energy prize’ in a recent policy brief by TERI.
From tomorrow, 50 buses to run on fuel that’s cleaner than CNG
- October 19, 2020
Source: The Times of India
From October 20, buses running on hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG) are going to hit Delhi’s roads. A cleaner fuel compared with CNG, HCNG will be used to run 50 buses as part of a pilot project for six months from the Rajghat-1 bus depot. A four-tonne per day compact reformer-based HCNG production plant has come up at the Rajghat-1 bus depot of Delhi Transport Corporation.
Battery operated vehicles exempted from registration fee in Delhi
- October 16, 2020
Source: The Economic Times
The Delhi government has exempted all battery operated vehicles from registration fee under its electric vehicle policy. Few days earlier, the state government's transport department had issued a gazette notification, stating full waiver on road tax on battery-operated vehicles. Delhi government had launched the Electric Vehicle Policy announcing incentives of up to INR 1.5 lakh on the purchase of four-wheelers, INR 30,000 on two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws and freight carriers, besides promising waiver of road tax and registration fee.
Citroen India to enter mass market EV space by 2022, to bring in flexi-fuel cars by 2021
- October 12, 2020
Source: ET Auto
French carmaker Groupe PSA is planning to focus on cleaner fuel including electric powertrain and SUVs for its Citroen brand to carve a space for itself in the highly competitive Indian passenger vehicle market. Groupe PSA is working on a mass market small electric SUV codenamed eCC21, which is likely to be priced around Rs 8 lakh and hit the Indian roads in 2022. The vehicle will be produced out of the Thiruvallur facility in Tamil Nadu.
Amazon unveils its first electric delivery vehicle: 10,000 EVs in India by 2025
- October 12, 2020
Source: The Financial Express
Amazon plans to roll out 10,000 EVs for delivering to its customers around the world by 2022 and 1 lakh by 2030. The company aims to add 10,000 EVs to its delivery fleet in India alone by 2025. Built by Rivian, this electric delivery van is the first of three models Amazon has invested in. Amazon has committed to be a carbon-neutral company by 2040 under its climate pledge.
India’s first hydrogen fuel cell electric hybrid car completes maiden test run in city
- October 11, 2020
Source: Indian Express
India’s first Hydrogen Fuel Cell electric hybrid car successfully completed its maiden test run in Pune.The technology, developed over four years, has the potential to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel once introduced in markets. This indigenously developed technology was a collaborative effort between scientists from two Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) labs – National Chemical Laboratory, Pune and Central Electro Chemical Research Institute, Karaikudi along with KPIT, Pune.
GST reduction and other benefits have created the right framework for EVs in India: Mercedes-Benz
- October 08, 2020
Source: Mint
The Indian government’s decision to reduce Goods and Services Tax levied on electric cars to just 5% and the other incentives being offered by the state governments will help automobile manufacturers launch more electric vehicles in the domestic market, said Martin Schwenk, managing director, Mercedes-Benz India Pvt Ltd in an interview. The German vehicle maker became the first luxury car maker and overall the third Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to launch a battery powered electric car in India after Hyundai Motor India Ltd and M G Motor India Ltd.
Uber to add 1,000 electric cars to its fleet in India
- October 08, 2020
Source: Gadgets 360
Uber has announced that it will add 1,000 electric vehicles to its fleet in India. The new electric vehicles will be offered in partnership with Lithium Urban Technologies, an electric vehicles fleet operator, in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune. The electric vehicles, all sedans, will be available for hire through Uber's Premier and Rental services on its app. Uber plans to scale up the number of electric cars in its fleet from 100 currently to 2,000 in the next 12 months.