<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/musk-hands-over-first-tesla-model-3-electric-cars-to-early-buyers-18373">After Tesla&#39;s success with electric cars</a>, Hyundai Motors affiliate Kia Motors Corp said it will launch thirty-one models of electric cars by 2020.</p>

<p>The South Korean car company said it will launch long range electric cars with a driving range of 500 kms per charge after 2021.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/tesla-3-musks-addition-to-his-eco-friendly-cars-18362">Elon Musk&#39;s Tesla motor company recently rolled out</a> the much awaited Model-3 cars in the US aiming to disrupt fuel-powered car industry. In fact, Tesla has been trying to set up an electric vehicle manufacturing plant in China which is one of the biggest polluters in the world.</p>

<p>Last year, Hyundai had launched the IONIQ, an electric car but it couldn&#39;t seize the market as the vehicle offered less per-charge driving range compared to Tesla and General Motors.</p>

<p>The electric car market is seen by companies as one of the hottest growing markets with even high-end companies targeting the segment.</p>

<p>Swedish car company Volvo declared recently it will be&nbsp;discontinuing&nbsp;manufacture&nbsp;of fuel propelled cars in two years and German auto company Porsche&nbsp;insists half of its cars will be electric by 2023.</p>

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Last year, Hyundai had launched the IONIQ, an electric car but it couldn't seize the market

After Tesla's success with electric cars, Hyundai Motors affiliate Kia Motors Corp said it will launch thirty-one models of electric cars by 2020. The South Korean car company said it will launch long range electric cars with a driving range of 500 kms per charge after 2021. Elon Musk's Tesla motor company recently rolled out the much awaited Model-3 cars in the US aiming to disrupt fuel-powered car industry. In fact, Tesla has been trying to set up an electric vehicle manufacturing plant in China which is one of the biggest polluters in the world. Last year, Hyundai had launched the IONIQ, an electric car but it couldn't seize the market as the vehicle offered less per-charge driving range compared to Tesla and General Motors. The electric car market is seen by companies as one of the hottest growing markets with even high-end companies targeting the segment. Swedish car company Volvo declared recently it will be discontinuing manufacture of fuel propelled cars in two years and German auto company Porsche insists half of its cars will be electric by 2023.

After Tesla's Model 3, Hyundai Motors to launch more electric cars

<p>Producers of processed&nbsp;lithium, an essential element for batteries used in electric cars, are agreeing to long-term contracts with their customers to fund the investments needed to address a looming shortfall.</p>

<p>Demand for battery-grade&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;compounds is expected to skyrocket in the next decades in tandem with soaring demand for electric cars as governments and individual consumers try to reduce their carbon footprint.</p>

<p>Although there&#39;s plenty of&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;around, the problem is ensuring there is enough capacity to process it.</p>

<p>Battery makers and other end-users such as car manufacturers will need to sign multi-year deals that encourage large producers to invest more, and faster, industry sources say.</p>

<p>Some of that is already happening.</p>

<p>&quot;We&#39;ve established the timeline for our own expansion based on the commitments our customers are making with us,&quot; said Tom Schneberger, global business director at the US listed FMC&nbsp;Lithium, one of the world&#39;s top four producers.</p>

<p>&quot;Our first priority will be to provide the adequate supply of the high-quality products upon which (our strategic customers) rely,&quot; he told<em> Reuters</em>.</p>

<p>Expansion plans by Chile&#39;s Sociedad Quimica Y Minera (SQM), another of the top four, for next year are also based on long-term agreements, the company told <em>Reuters.</em></p>

<p>The production and use of electric cars is projected by Morgan Stanley analysts to rise to 2.9 per cent of 99 million new vehicles in 2020 and to 9.4 per cent of 102 million new vehicles in 2025, from 1.1 percent of 86.5 million this year.</p>

<p>By 2050, 81 per cent of 132 million new auto sales will be electric, Morgan Stanley says.</p>

<p><strong>Limited </strong><strong>Visibility</strong></p>

<p>The&nbsp;lithium-ion batteries needed to power electric cars use&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;carbonate or&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;hydroxide, but the industry typically talks in terms of&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;carbonate equivalent which contains both.</p>

<p>Two types of&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;deposits dominate.</p>

<p>One is a hard rock as found in Australia, for which ready-to- go capacity to produce battery gradelithium&nbsp;can take up to three years. The other is brine, mostly found in Chile and Argentina, which can take seven years or more.</p>

<p>China has reserves of both.</p>

<p>Consultants Roskill estimate 785,000 tonnes of&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;carbonate equivalent a year will be needed by 2025, amounting to a 26,000-tonne shortfall from anticipated supply, compared to 217,000 tonnes of demand versus 227,000 tonnes of supply this year.</p>

<p>Others expect an even larger deficit.</p>

<p>&quot;There&#39;s limited visibility into where we&#39;re going to get the last 200,000 tonnes of&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;if we hit the numbers Roskill is expecting for 2025,&quot; said Seth Ginns, a managing director at Jennison Associates.</p>

<p>Jennison manages more than $164 billion of investment and is a top 10 investor in both FMC and US listed Albemarle, another of the top four producers.</p>

<p>&quot;We estimate the&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;industry is going to need between $4-$5 billion of investment out to 2025,&quot; said Simon Moores, managing director at Benchmark Minerals Intelligence.</p>

<p>Price projections out to 2025 are not available, but Benchmark estimates prices of&nbsp;lithiumcarbonate will average $13,000 a tonne over the 2017-2020 period from around $9,000 a tonne in 2015-2016.</p>

<p>Demand for&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;hydroxide, preferred over carbonate as it allows greater battery capacity and longer life, is expected to grow at a faster pace. Benchmark predicts the price to average $18,000 a tonne between 2017-2020 against $14,000 in 2015-2016.</p>

<p><strong>Four companies dominate</strong></p>

<p>Top producers are looking at a bonanza if they can ramp up investment fast enough with end-user commitments in hand.</p>

<p>&quot;There are four names that dominate and that is likely to be the case for the next five years,&quot; said Jeremy Kent, a portfolio manager at Allianz Global Investors.</p>

<p>Roskill managing director Robert Baylis estimates FMC, Albemarle, SQM and China&#39;s TianqiLithium&nbsp;Corporation together accounted for 66 per cent of the world&#39;s&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;carbonate equivalent last year. Wood Mackenzie consultant James Whiteside puts the figure at 78 per cent.</p>

<p>FMC&#39;s&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;hydroxide capacity rose 80 per cent in 2017 to 18,000 tonnes a year, and it has plans to boost that to 30,000 tonnes by the end of 2019. After that, capacity will be expanded as required by demand, FMC&#39;s Schneberger said.</p>

<p>Albemarle is planning to expand its&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;carbonate equivalent capacity to 165,000 tonnes by 2021 from 89,000 tonnes this year, a spokesperson said. &quot;We anticipate spending $700 million and $1 billion over the next 5 years.&quot;</p>

<p>SQM said in an email it was planning to invest $50 million to expand its&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;carbonate capacity in Chile to 63,000 tonnes by 2018 from 48,000 tonnes currently. It also has joint ventures in Argentina and Australia to develop deposits.</p>

<p>Tianqi&nbsp;Lithium&nbsp;declined to comment on its investment plans.</p>

<p>Another company actively investing is Australia&#39;s Orocobre, which planned to produce 17,500 tonnes a year of&nbsp;lithium&nbsp;carbonate at its Olaroz facility in Argentina.</p>

<p>Severe weather cut this year&#39;s production to 11,700-11,800 tonnes, however.</p>

<p>Whiteside said Orocobre&#39;s difficulties were typical of many smaller players, noting that the Olaroz facility was the first new major brine operation started in 20 years.</p>

<p>&quot;Because the number of brine operations has been so few historically, there are very few technically experienced chemical engineers to assist these junior companies,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>&quot;There are people out there promoting brine projects with plans that are not as robust as they should be.&quot;</p>


Producers of processed?lithium, an essential element for batteries used in electric cars, are agreeing to long-term contracts with their customers to fund the investments needed to address a looming shortfall

Producers of processed lithium, an essential element for batteries used in electric cars, are agreeing to long-term contracts with their customers to fund the investments needed to address a looming shortfall. Demand for battery-grade lithium compounds is expected to skyrocket in the next decades in tandem with soaring demand for electric cars as governments and individual consumers try to reduce their carbon footprint. Although there's plenty of lithium around, the problem is ensuring there is enough capacity to process it. Battery makers and other end-users such as car manufacturers will need to sign multi-year deals that encourage large producers to invest more, and faster, industry sources say. Some of that is already happening. "We've established the timeline for our own expansion based on the commitments our customers are making with us," said Tom Schneberger, global business director at the US listed FMC Lithium, one of the world's top four producers. "Our first priority will be to provide the adequate supply of the high-quality products upon which (our strategic customers) rely," he told Reuters. Expansion plans by Chile's Sociedad Quimica Y Minera (SQM), another of the top four, for next year are also based on long-term agreements, the company told Reuters. The production and use of electric cars is projected by Morgan Stanley analysts to rise to 2.9 per cent of 99 million new vehicles in 2020 and to 9.4 per cent of 102 million new vehicles in 2025, from 1.1 percent of 86.5 million this year. By 2050, 81 per cent of 132 million new auto sales will be electric, Morgan Stanley says. Limited Visibility The lithium-ion batteries needed to power electric cars use lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide, but the industry typically talks in terms of lithium carbonate equivalent which contains both. Two types of lithium deposits dominate. One is a hard rock as found in Australia, for which ready-to- go capacity to produce battery gradelithium can take up to three years. The other is brine, mostly found in Chile and Argentina, which can take seven years or more. China has reserves of both. Consultants Roskill estimate 785,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent a year will be needed by 2025, amounting to a 26,000-tonne shortfall from anticipated supply, compared to 217,000 tonnes of demand versus 227,000 tonnes of supply this year. Others expect an even larger deficit. "There's limited visibility into where we're going to get the last 200,000 tonnes of lithium if we hit the numbers Roskill is expecting for 2025," said Seth Ginns, a managing director at Jennison Associates. Jennison manages more than $164 billion of investment and is a top 10 investor in both FMC and US listed Albemarle, another of the top four producers. "We estimate the lithium industry is going to need between $4-$5 billion of investment out to 2025," said Simon Moores, managing director at Benchmark Minerals Intelligence. Price projections out to 2025 are not available, but Benchmark estimates prices of lithiumcarbonate will average $13,000 a tonne over the 2017-2020 period from around $9,000 a tonne in 2015-2016. Demand for lithium hydroxide, preferred over carbonate as it allows greater battery capacity and longer life, is expected to grow at a faster pace. Benchmark predicts the price to average $18,000 a tonne between 2017-2020 against $14,000 in 2015-2016. Four companies dominate Top producers are looking at a bonanza if they can ramp up investment fast enough with end-user commitments in hand. "There are four names that dominate and that is likely to be the case for the next five years," said Jeremy Kent, a portfolio manager at Allianz Global Investors. Roskill managing director Robert Baylis estimates FMC, Albemarle, SQM and China's TianqiLithium Corporation together accounted for 66 per cent of the world's lithium carbonate equivalent last year. Wood Mackenzie consultant James Whiteside puts the figure at 78 per cent. FMC's lithium hydroxide capacity rose 80 per cent in 2017 to 18,000 tonnes a year, and it has plans to boost that to 30,000 tonnes by the end of 2019. After that, capacity will be expanded as required by demand, FMC's Schneberger said. Albemarle is planning to expand its lithium carbonate equivalent capacity to 165,000 tonnes by 2021 from 89,000 tonnes this year, a spokesperson said. "We anticipate spending $700 million and $1 billion over the next 5 years." SQM said in an email it was planning to invest $50 million to expand its lithium carbonate capacity in Chile to 63,000 tonnes by 2018 from 48,000 tonnes currently. It also has joint ventures in Argentina and Australia to develop deposits. Tianqi Lithium declined to comment on its investment plans. Another company actively investing is Australia's Orocobre, which planned to produce 17,500 tonnes a year of lithium carbonate at its Olaroz facility in Argentina. Severe weather cut this year's production to 11,700-11,800 tonnes, however. Whiteside said Orocobre's difficulties were typical of many smaller players, noting that the Olaroz facility was the first new major brine operation started in 20 years. "Because the number of brine operations has been so few historically, there are very few technically experienced chemical engineers to assist these junior companies," he said. "There are people out there promoting brine projects with plans that are not as robust as they should be."

Lithium processors for cars set to sky rocket

<p>The Indian government today clarified that US-based electric car major Tesla will not have to source local components if it plans to set up a manufacturing unit in the country.</p>

<p>The government responded to apprehensions expressed by Tesla founder Elon Musk that the company would have to source a certain percentage of local components to set up plant in India.&nbsp;Musk in his tweet had said: &quot;Maybe I&#39;m misinformed, but I was told that 30% of parts must be locally sourced and the supply doesn&#39;t yet exist in India to support that&quot;.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/TheAvinashSingh">@TheAvinashSingh</a> Maybe I&#39;m misinformed, but I was told that 30% of parts must be locally sourced and the supply doesn&#39;t yet exist in India to support that.</p>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/866473048639066112">May 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The commerce and industry ministry through its &#39;Make in India&#39; Twitter handle stated that the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy does not mandate any such minimum sourcing of components by manufacturers.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk">@elonmusk</a> With respect to news reports on launch plans of Tesla in India being delayed, please note some key clarifications<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MakeInIndia?src=hash">#MakeInIndia</a> <a href="https://t.co/9RFICGM9Kk">pic.twitter.com/9RFICGM9Kk</a></p>
&mdash; Make in India (@makeinindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/makeinindia/status/866910403254603776">May 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>As per the policy, after manufacturing in India, a foreign investor is permitted to sell its products in any manner - wholesale, retail or e-commerce.</p>

<p>&quot;FDI policy also permits wholesale of imported goods in India without sourcing conditions,&quot; the ministry said.</p>

<p>It is only for retail trading of goods that sourcing conditions are mandated. Such norms are not applicable to manufacturers as goods are produced in India, it added.</p>

<p>Last year in April, the company had stated that it planned to enter India with its Model 3 in 2017.</p>

<p>In a visit to the company&#39;s plant last year, minister of road, transport and highways Nitin Gadkari had offered Tesla land near major Indian ports to facilitate exports to South and South East Asian countries while asking the company to make India its Asia manufacturing hub.</p>

<p>In September 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Tesla&#39;s facility in San Jose and showed keen interest in some of their path-breaking inventions, particularly in the renewable energy sector which can have multiple applications in remote rural areas.</p>

<p>If a foreign company wants to open wholly-owned single-brand retail stores in India, it has to mandatorily source 30 per cent of the value of goods from India.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


Tesla will not have to source local components if it plans to set up a manufacturing unit in India

The Indian government today clarified that US-based electric car major Tesla will not have to source local components if it plans to set up a manufacturing unit in the country. The government responded to apprehensions expressed by Tesla founder Elon Musk that the company would have to source a certain percentage of local components to set up plant in India. Musk in his tweet had said: "Maybe I'm misinformed, but I was told that 30% of parts must be locally sourced and the supply doesn't yet exist in India to support that". @TheAvinashSingh Maybe I'm misinformed, but I was told that 30% of parts must be locally sourced and the supply doesn't yet exist in India to support that. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 22, 2017 × The commerce and industry ministry through its 'Make in India' Twitter handle stated that the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy does not mandate any such minimum sourcing of components by manufacturers. .@elonmusk With respect to news reports on launch plans of Tesla in India being delayed, please note some key clarifications#MakeInIndia pic.twitter.com/9RFICGM9Kk — Make in India (@makeinindia) May 23, 2017 × As per the policy, after manufacturing in India, a foreign investor is permitted to sell its products in any manner - wholesale, retail or e-commerce. "FDI policy also permits wholesale of imported goods in India without sourcing conditions," the ministry said. It is only for retail trading of goods that sourcing conditions are mandated. Such norms are not applicable to manufacturers as goods are produced in India, it added. Last year in April, the company had stated that it planned to enter India with its Model 3 in 2017. In a visit to the company's plant last year, minister of road, transport and highways Nitin Gadkari had offered Tesla land near major Indian ports to facilitate exports to South and South East Asian countries while asking the company to make India its Asia manufacturing hub. In September 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Tesla's facility in San Jose and showed keen interest in some of their path-breaking inventions, particularly in the renewable energy sector which can have multiple applications in remote rural areas. If a foreign company wants to open wholly-owned single-brand retail stores in India, it has to mandatorily source 30 per cent of the value of goods from India. (PTI)

After govt clarification, Tesla might come to India sooner

<p>India&#39;s ambitious plan to push electric vehicles at the expense of other technologies could benefit Chinese car makers seeking to enter the market, but is worrying established automakers in the country who have so far focused on making hybrid models.</p>

<p>India&#39;s most influential government think-tank unveiled a policy blueprint this month aimed at electrifying all vehicles in the country by 2032, in a move that is catching the attention of car makers that are already investing in electric technology in China such as BYD and SAIC.</p>

<p>The May 12 report by Niti Aayog, the planning body headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recommends lower taxes and loan interest rates on electric vehicles while capping sales of petrol and diesel cars, seen as a radical shift in policy.</p>

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<h5>While the Niti Aayog report has not yet been formally adopted, government sources have said it was likely to form the basis of a new green cars policy</h5>
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<p>India also plans to impose higher taxes on hybrid vehicles compared with electric, under a new unified tax regime set to come into effect from July 1, upsetting car makers like Maruti Suzuki and Toyota Motor.</p>

<p>The prospect of India aggressively promoting electric vehicles was a &quot;big opportunity&quot;, a source close to SAIC, China&#39;s biggest automaker, told Reuters.</p>

<p>&quot;For a newcomer, this is a good chance to establish a modern, innovative brand image,&quot; the source said, although they added the company would need more clarity on policy before deciding whether to launch electric vehicles in India.</p>

<p>Earlier this year SAIC set up a local unit called MG Motor which is finalising plans to buy a car manufacturing plant in western India. A spokesman at SAIC did not comment specifically on the company&#39;s India plans.</p>

<p>Warren Buffett-backed BYD already builds electric buses in the country, while rival Chongqing Changan has said it may enter India by 2020.</p>

<p>BYD said in a statement the company would have &quot;a lot more confidence&quot; to engage in the Indian market if the government supported the proposed policy. The company said it would look at increasing its investment in India but did not give details on how it would expand its business and market share.</p>

<p><strong>HIGH COSTS</strong></p>

<p>While the Niti Aayog report has not yet been formally adopted, government sources have said it was likely to form the basis of a new green cars policy.</p>

<p>If so, India would be following similar moves by China, which has been aggressively pushing clean vehicle technologies. But emulating China&#39;s success could be tough.</p>

<p>Electric vehicles are expensive due to high battery costs, and car makers say a lack of charging stations in India could make the whole proposition unviable.</p>

<p>The proposed policy focuses on electric vehicles, and is likely to also include plug-in hybrids. But it overlooks conventional hybrid models already sold in India, such as Toyota&#39;s Camry sedan, Honda Motor&#39;s Accord sedan and so-called mild hybrids built by Maruti Suzuki.</p>

<p>Hybrids combine fossil fuel and electric power, with mild hybrids making less use of the latter.</p>

<p>In doubling down on electric power India would be shifting away from its previous policy, announced in 2015, that supported hybrid and electric technology.</p>

<p>That could delay investments in India, expected to be the world&#39;s third-largest passenger car market within the next decade, according to industry executives and analysts.</p>

<p>&quot;All these policy changes will affect future products and investments,&quot; said Puneet Gupta, South Asia manager at consultant IHS Markit, adding that most car makers would need to rethink product launches, especially of hybrids.</p>

<p><strong>ECONOMIC GAP</strong></p>

<p>Mahindra &amp; Mahindra is the only electric car maker in India but has struggled to ramp up sales, blaming low buyer interest and insufficient infrastructure.</p>

<p>Pawan Goenka, managing director at Mahindra said the company was working with the government and other private players to set up charging stations in India. Mahindra was also focusing on developing electric fleet cars and taxis, Goenka said.</p>

<p>The cost of setting up a car charging station in India ranges from $500 to $25,000, depending on the charging speed, according to a 2016 report by online journal IOPscience.</p>

<p>While the proposed policy suggests setting up battery swapping stations and using tax revenues from sales of petrol and diesel vehicles to set up charging stations, it does not specify the investment needed or whether the government would contribute.</p>

<p>&quot;For full electric vehicles, the economic gap remains huge and the charging infrastructure needed does not exist,&quot; said a spokesman at Tata Motors. The company makes electric buses and is working on developing electric and hybrid cars.</p>

<p><strong>DELAYED PLANS</strong></p>

<p>Most automakers have focused on bringing in hybrid models that are seen as a stepping stone to electrification. Toyota recently launched its luxury hybrid brand Prius in India, while Hyundai Motor plans to debut its Ioniq hybrid sedan next year.</p>

<p>Maruti&#39;s parent Suzuki Motor, along with Toshiba and Denso, plans to invest 20 billion yen ($180 million) to set up a lithium ion battery plant in India which would support Maruti&#39;s plan to build more hybrids.</p>

<p>But the apparent sharp shift in policymakers&#39; thinking in favour of electrification is forcing automakers like Toyota and Nissan Motor to seek more clarity before finalising future products for India, while Hyundai may delay new launches.</p>

<p>Toyota, the world&#39;s No. 2 carmaker by sales, had planned to have a hybrid variant for all its vehicles in India, but the company&#39;s future launches would now depend on the new policy, said Shekar Viswanathan, vice chairman of its Indian subsidiary.</p>

<p>Nissan, which plans to launch a hybrid SUV later this year, said in a statement it was waiting for more clarity before deciding whether to bring electric cars to India.</p>

<p>A plan by Hyundai to launch at least three hybrid cars in India in 2019-2020 would likely to be delayed, said a source.</p>

<p>Hyundai did not comment on queries related to delays.</p>

<p>&quot;If the government will be aggressive on electric vehicles and not support other technologies, companies will need to rethink investments,&quot; said an executive with an Asian carmaker.</p>

<p>(Reuters)</p>


The Niti Aayog unveiled a policy blueprint this month aimed at electrifying all vehicles in the country by 2032

India's ambitious plan to push electric vehicles at the expense of other technologies could benefit Chinese car makers seeking to enter the market, but is worrying established automakers in the country who have so far focused on making hybrid models. India's most influential government think-tank unveiled a policy blueprint this month aimed at electrifying all vehicles in the country by 2032, in a move that is catching the attention of car makers that are already investing in electric technology in China such as BYD and SAIC. The May 12 report by Niti Aayog, the planning body headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recommends lower taxes and loan interest rates on electric vehicles while capping sales of petrol and diesel cars, seen as a radical shift in policy. While the Niti Aayog report has not yet been formally adopted, government sources have said it was likely to form the basis of a new green cars policy × India also plans to impose higher taxes on hybrid vehicles compared with electric, under a new unified tax regime set to come into effect from July 1, upsetting car makers like Maruti Suzuki and Toyota Motor. The prospect of India aggressively promoting electric vehicles was a "big opportunity", a source close to SAIC, China's biggest automaker, told Reuters. "For a newcomer, this is a good chance to establish a modern, innovative brand image," the source said, although they added the company would need more clarity on policy before deciding whether to launch electric vehicles in India. Earlier this year SAIC set up a local unit called MG Motor which is finalising plans to buy a car manufacturing plant in western India. A spokesman at SAIC did not comment specifically on the company's India plans. Warren Buffett-backed BYD already builds electric buses in the country, while rival Chongqing Changan has said it may enter India by 2020. BYD said in a statement the company would have "a lot more confidence" to engage in the Indian market if the government supported the proposed policy. The company said it would look at increasing its investment in India but did not give details on how it would expand its business and market share. HIGH COSTS While the Niti Aayog report has not yet been formally adopted, government sources have said it was likely to form the basis of a new green cars policy. If so, India would be following similar moves by China, which has been aggressively pushing clean vehicle technologies. But emulating China's success could be tough. Electric vehicles are expensive due to high battery costs, and car makers say a lack of charging stations in India could make the whole proposition unviable. The proposed policy focuses on electric vehicles, and is likely to also include plug-in hybrids. But it overlooks conventional hybrid models already sold in India, such as Toyota's Camry sedan, Honda Motor's Accord sedan and so-called mild hybrids built by Maruti Suzuki. Hybrids combine fossil fuel and electric power, with mild hybrids making less use of the latter. In doubling down on electric power India would be shifting away from its previous policy, announced in 2015, that supported hybrid and electric technology. That could delay investments in India, expected to be the world's third-largest passenger car market within the next decade, according to industry executives and analysts. "All these policy changes will affect future products and investments," said Puneet Gupta, South Asia manager at consultant IHS Markit, adding that most car makers would need to rethink product launches, especially of hybrids. ECONOMIC GAP Mahindra & Mahindra is the only electric car maker in India but has struggled to ramp up sales, blaming low buyer interest and insufficient infrastructure. Pawan Goenka, managing director at Mahindra said the company was working with the government and other private players to set up charging stations in India. Mahindra was also focusing on developing electric fleet cars and taxis, Goenka said. The cost of setting up a car charging station in India ranges from $500 to $25,000, depending on the charging speed, according to a 2016 report by online journal IOPscience. While the proposed policy suggests setting up battery swapping stations and using tax revenues from sales of petrol and diesel vehicles to set up charging stations, it does not specify the investment needed or whether the government would contribute. "For full electric vehicles, the economic gap remains huge and the charging infrastructure needed does not exist," said a spokesman at Tata Motors. The company makes electric buses and is working on developing electric and hybrid cars. DELAYED PLANS Most automakers have focused on bringing in hybrid models that are seen as a stepping stone to electrification. Toyota recently launched its luxury hybrid brand Prius in India, while Hyundai Motor plans to debut its Ioniq hybrid sedan next year. Maruti's parent Suzuki Motor, along with Toshiba and Denso, plans to invest 20 billion yen ($180 million) to set up a lithium ion battery plant in India which would support Maruti's plan to build more hybrids. But the apparent sharp shift in policymakers' thinking in favour of electrification is forcing automakers like Toyota and Nissan Motor to seek more clarity before finalising future products for India, while Hyundai may delay new launches. Toyota, the world's No. 2 carmaker by sales, had planned to have a hybrid variant for all its vehicles in India, but the company's future launches would now depend on the new policy, said Shekar Viswanathan, vice chairman of its Indian subsidiary. Nissan, which plans to launch a hybrid SUV later this year, said in a statement it was waiting for more clarity before deciding whether to bring electric cars to India. A plan by Hyundai to launch at least three hybrid cars in India in 2019-2020 would likely to be delayed, said a source. Hyundai did not comment on queries related to delays. "If the government will be aggressive on electric vehicles and not support other technologies, companies will need to rethink investments," said an executive with an Asian carmaker. (Reuters)

India's electric car push likely to benefit Chinese manufacturers

<p>It is said that science fiction is about making the improbable seem possible. Writers of the genre postulate a world of the future. And while some of their ideas can end up remaining a fantasy, there are a number of times when their predictions have been right on the money.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here&rsquo;s 9&nbsp;times sci-fi writers were spot-on about technological advancements:&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Debit/Credit Cards</h2>

<p>When Edward Bellamy wrote Looking Backward in 1888, people only relied on paper money. His book introduced the concept of universal credit where citizens of his future utopia carried a card that allowed them to spend on goods and services without paper money changing hands. The book was a huge success.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy (WION)</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Earphones</h2>

<p>When Ray Bradbury published his dystopian classic Fahrenheit 451 in 1953, portable audio already existed, but the headphones were ungainly and heavy. In his book, he talked about &ldquo;little seashells&hellip; thimble radios&rdquo; that brought an &ldquo;electronic ocean of sound, of music and talk and music and talk&rdquo;. Who would have then imagined that one day devices like in-ear earphones would become an integral part of people&rsquo;s daily lives.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (WION)</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Electric Cars, Violence And Hookup Culture</h2>

<p>John Brunner&rsquo;s Stand On Zanzibar was another piece of literature that was way ahead of its time. Published in 1969, his book painted a world that we are all too familiar with today: America plagued by random acts of violence like school shootings and terrorist attacks, cars powered by rechargeable electric fuel cells, men and women eschewing marriage for short-term and low commitment hookups. What was he thinking?&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Stand On Zanzibar by John Brunner (WION)</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Geostationary Satellite Communications</h2>

<p>In 1945, a pioneering science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke wrote a manuscript called The Space-Station: Its Radio Applications. He introduced for the first time, geosynchronous satellites being used for telecommunications relays and most importantly for television signals. Imagine a world without our televisions and scores of channels.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The Space-Station: Its Radio Applications by Arthur C. Clarke (WION)</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Moon Landing</h2>

<p>Jules Verne wrote From The Earth To The Moon and predicted many aspects of the 1969 manned lunar landing of Apollo 11. Verne&rsquo;s astronauts were launched from a Florida site in an aluminium capsule. In the book, he even gave accurate calculations as to the amount of force that would be needed to propel the rocket out of Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere. We have gone much beyond the Moon now!</p>

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<p>From The Earth To The Moon by Jules Verne (WION)</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Nuclear Weapon</h2>

<p>Robert Heinlein&rsquo;s 1940 short story Solution Unsatisfactory predicted a future world where America develops an atomic weapon that ends World War II unilaterally. After they use it, it spurs the rest of the world into a nuclear arms race to keep up. The story was written even before the United States entered World War II and five years before the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Solution Unsatisfactory by Robert Heinlein (WION)</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Security Cameras</h2>

<p>George Orwell wrote the book 1984 in 1949. In it, he spoke about the concept of a dystopian state monitored by an interconnected web of security cameras. It seemed absurd back then, but it is a reality now with round-the-clock security surveillance, cameras in both public and private spaces, GPS tracking and online tracking by government agencies. Orwell wrote about it all in his book.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>1984 by George Orwell (WION)</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Tanks</h2>

<p>H.G. Wells wrote the story The Land Ironclads which was published in the Strand Magazine in 1903. His story took the then-current technology of metal-hulled warships and put them on land, creating war machines- tanks. Wells&rsquo;s conceptualised modern day tanks were approximately 100 feet long and rolled on eight pairs of wheels, each of which had its own independent turning axle. A tower in the top of the machine let the captain survey the scene. In reality, the first tanks were deployed on the battlefield in 1916 during the battle of the Somme.</p>

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<p>The Land Ironclads by H.G. Wells (WION)</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Video Chat</h2>

<p>The first demonstration of consumer video conferencing was in the form of &lsquo;picturephone&rsquo; at the 1964 New York World&rsquo;s Fair. The technology has now come a long way with FaceTime and Skype becoming the standard means of long-distance communication. But all of this traces back to Hugo Gernsback&rsquo;s novel Ralph 124c 41+. The story was first printed in Modern Electrics magazine in 1911. It spoke about a device called the &ldquo;telephot&rdquo; that let people have eye contact while speaking across long distances.</p>

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<p>Ralph 124c 41+ by Hugo Gernsback (WION)</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>(Contributed by: Zeba Khan)</p>


Paperless money, security cameras, nuclear weapons and more just stepped out of a book into our reality

It is said that science fiction is about making the improbable seem possible. Writers of the genre postulate a world of the future. And while some of their ideas can end up remaining a fantasy, there are a number of times when their predictions have been right on the money. Here’s 9 times sci-fi writers were spot-on about technological advancements: Debit/Credit Cards When Edward Bellamy wrote Looking Backward in 1888, people only relied on paper money. His book introduced the concept of universal credit where citizens of his future utopia carried a card that allowed them to spend on goods and services without paper money changing hands. The book was a huge success. Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy (WION) × Earphones When Ray Bradbury published his dystopian classic Fahrenheit 451 in 1953, portable audio already existed, but the headphones were ungainly and heavy. In his book, he talked about “little seashells… thimble radios” that brought an “electronic ocean of sound, of music and talk and music and talk”. Who would have then imagined that one day devices like in-ear earphones would become an integral part of people’s daily lives. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (WION) × Electric Cars, Violence And Hookup Culture John Brunner’s Stand On Zanzibar was another piece of literature that was way ahead of its time. Published in 1969, his book painted a world that we are all too familiar with today: America plagued by random acts of violence like school shootings and terrorist attacks, cars powered by rechargeable electric fuel cells, men and women eschewing marriage for short-term and low commitment hookups. What was he thinking? Stand On Zanzibar by John Brunner (WION) × Geostationary Satellite Communications In 1945, a pioneering science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke wrote a manuscript called The Space-Station: Its Radio Applications. He introduced for the first time, geosynchronous satellites being used for telecommunications relays and most importantly for television signals. Imagine a world without our televisions and scores of channels. The Space-Station: Its Radio Applications by Arthur C. Clarke (WION) × Moon Landing Jules Verne wrote From The Earth To The Moon and predicted many aspects of the 1969 manned lunar landing of Apollo 11. Verne’s astronauts were launched from a Florida site in an aluminium capsule. In the book, he even gave accurate calculations as to the amount of force that would be needed to propel the rocket out of Earth’s atmosphere. We have gone much beyond the Moon now! From The Earth To The Moon by Jules Verne (WION) × Nuclear Weapon Robert Heinlein’s 1940 short story Solution Unsatisfactory predicted a future world where America develops an atomic weapon that ends World War II unilaterally. After they use it, it spurs the rest of the world into a nuclear arms race to keep up. The story was written even before the United States entered World War II and five years before the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Solution Unsatisfactory by Robert Heinlein (WION) × Security Cameras George Orwell wrote the book 1984 in 1949. In it, he spoke about the concept of a dystopian state monitored by an interconnected web of security cameras. It seemed absurd back then, but it is a reality now with round-the-clock security surveillance, cameras in both public and private spaces, GPS tracking and online tracking by government agencies. Orwell wrote about it all in his book. 1984 by George Orwell (WION) × Tanks H.G. Wells wrote the story The Land Ironclads which was published in the Strand Magazine in 1903. His story took the then-current technology of metal-hulled warships and put them on land, creating war machines- tanks. Wells’s conceptualised modern day tanks were approximately 100 feet long and rolled on eight pairs of wheels, each of which had its own independent turning axle. A tower in the top of the machine let the captain survey the scene. In reality, the first tanks were deployed on the battlefield in 1916 during the battle of the Somme. The Land Ironclads by H.G. Wells (WION) × Video Chat The first demonstration of consumer video conferencing was in the form of ‘picturephone’ at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The technology has now come a long way with FaceTime and Skype becoming the standard means of long-distance communication. But all of this traces back to Hugo Gernsback’s novel Ralph 124c 41+. The story was first printed in Modern Electrics magazine in 1911. It spoke about a device called the “telephot” that let people have eye contact while speaking across long distances. Ralph 124c 41+ by Hugo Gernsback (WION) × (Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

9 predictions by science-fiction writers that actually came true

A fully solar energy-fueled car seems no longer a dream.<br />
<br />
Sono Motors, a young German startup worked four years in a garage in Munich to develope and realize Sion, the most echo (and wallet) friendly car on earth.<br />
<br />
The car has a chassis with integrated solar cells and will be available in two models. The sedan version will cost approximately $18,000 and the economy version will be priced $13,500.<br />
<br />
It carries a 7.5-square-metres solar cells surface area and two kinds of batteries: either a 30 kWh battery which allows a range of 250 Km or a 14.4 kWh one which guarantee 120 Km. The batteries will automatically recharge every day, even if it is cloudy, and there is no need to plug them anywhere.<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/1-20160913091820.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>THe German startuppers in their garage (photo:&nbsp;Sono Motors GmbH)</p>
</div>
<br />
<br />
According to the German team the car can reach 140 Kmh, making it also comfortable to drive along highways.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The best of it: cells are self-charging and can add 30 more free kilometres every day while driving. The charging system is also bidirectional, the car can also provide electricity up to 2,000 Watts allowing drivers to recharge their devices.<br />
<br />
When it comes to air-purification the team thought definitely out of the box. The entire filtering system is made of a natural moss integrated into the dashboard which requires no care since in draws water directly from the air. The moss filters the majorty of pollutant agents, like fine dusts produced by the industry and combustion engines.<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/4-20160913092805.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Sion carries a natural moss as its air filter (photo: Sono Motors GmbH).</p>
</div>
<br />
<br />
If succesfull this project will be a revolution in the automotive market, becoming an example on how it is possible to do business also saving the environment.<br />
<br />
&ldquo;It is not just about the carbon dyoxide coming out from the fuel exhausts, it is also about the gas flow worldwide while extracting oil where gas gets burnt 24X7 rather than getting uses. Every year 400 million tons carbon emissions are fled into the atmosphere&rdquo; says in the vehicle promo one of the three project managers.<br />
<br />
The first models will be produced against crowdfunding and are expected to be ready by 2018.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;(WION)

Sion models will cost less than $18,000 wit a range up to 250 Km and will be ready by 2018

A fully solar energy-fueled car seems no longer a dream. Sono Motors, a young German startup worked four years in a garage in Munich to develope and realize Sion, the most echo (and wallet) friendly car on earth. The car has a chassis with integrated solar cells and will be available in two models. The sedan version will cost approximately $18,000 and the economy version will be priced $13,500. It carries a 7.5-square-metres solar cells surface area and two kinds of batteries: either a 30 kWh battery which allows a range of 250 Km or a 14.4 kWh one which guarantee 120 Km. The batteries will automatically recharge every day, even if it is cloudy, and there is no need to plug them anywhere. THe German startuppers in their garage (photo: Sono Motors GmbH) According to the German team the car can reach 140 Kmh, making it also comfortable to drive along highways. The best of it: cells are self-charging and can add 30 more free kilometres every day while driving. The charging system is also bidirectional, the car can also provide electricity up to 2,000 Watts allowing drivers to recharge their devices. When it comes to air-purification the team thought definitely out of the box. The entire filtering system is made of a natural moss integrated into the dashboard which requires no care since in draws water directly from the air. The moss filters the majorty of pollutant agents, like fine dusts produced by the industry and combustion engines. Sion carries a natural moss as its air filter (photo: Sono Motors GmbH). If succesfull this project will be a revolution in the automotive market, becoming an example on how it is possible to do business also saving the environment. “It is not just about the carbon dyoxide coming out from the fuel exhausts, it is also about the gas flow worldwide while extracting oil where gas gets burnt 24X7 rather than getting uses. Every year 400 million tons carbon emissions are fled into the atmosphere” says in the vehicle promo one of the three project managers. The first models will be produced against crowdfunding and are expected to be ready by 2018. (WION)

German startup builds first cost-effective solar power cars

electric-cars

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