Four Electric Vehicles(EVs) emitted smoke and eventually went up in flames over the last four days in India, thus raising alarm over the safety of these E-scooters.&nbsp;

While one incident was reported from Maharashtra, the other three were from Tamil Nadu. Happening at a time when the summer is just beginning to set in across the subcontinent and at a time when people are actively considering switching to Electric vehicles, these events have sparked widespread concerns.&nbsp;

To understand the issues that might have led to the recent fires and to know about possible solutions, WION spoke to Aravind Kumar Chandiran, Assistant Professor, Dept of Chemical Engineering, IIT-Madras.

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Thread: Three instances of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EVs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EVs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/scooter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#scooter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Battery?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Battery</a> emitting lots of smoke, eventually catching fire reported in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TamilNadu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> over last one week 
 
In this incident from Trichy, E-bike was parked overnight in a shop, next morning as it was taken out &amp; parked it emitted fumes <a href="https://t.co/ucF1Xbsnbc">pic.twitter.com/ucF1Xbsnbc</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1509120186531872769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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According to him, such issues of batteries emitting smoke and eventually catching fire are not sudden phenomenon.

These are actually the result of a build-up(in the battery) that happens over a considerable period of time.&nbsp;

The key to tackling such issues, lay in the Battery Management System algorithms. Mobile phones and Electric vehicles have a 'Battery Management System'(BMS), which is meant to manage a rechargeable battery, ensure it operates safely and efficiently.&nbsp;

BMS is designed to monitor the parameters(temperature, charging, discharging) associated with the battery pack and its individual cells, apply the collected data to eliminate safety risks and optimize the battery performance.

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Incident from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chennai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chennai</a> outskirts.. Person was riding his <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElectricVehicle?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElectricVehicle</a> to work, when it started emitting smoke... he parked by the highway only to see flames erupt from the battery section.. Water tanker passing by put out the blaze <a href="https://t.co/8XBkB2ODru">pic.twitter.com/8XBkB2ODru</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1509121019348647941?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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"Electric vehicles operate in climactic conditions that prevail across India, which includes very cold to hot and humid weather and the battery is required to function across these places. Likewise, there are many users who ride the EV for a few hours every day and for long hauls, whereas others who use it casually, for short rides. There are also differences in charging patterns that the users follow. The algorithms in the BMS, must be extensively tested for these dynamically varying conditions, to facilitate best and safe performance of the batteries" he elaborated. Given that EV are in the initial stages of adoption in India, Aravind Kumar is of the opinion that it is the complete responsibility of the Original Equipment Manufacturers and EV companies to deliver well- tested vehicles, that are suited for Indian conditions and users. However, he also feels that batteries emitting smoke and catching fire/exploding are part of an evolutionary process that was witnessed even in mobile phone batteries, and was eventually perfected.

Speaking about the major factors behind damage caused to electric vehicle batteries, he said that it could be thermal abuse(high or low temperature variations), mechanical abuse(accident or crash) and also electric abuse(overcharging and deep discharging cycles). He added that their lab at IIT Madras was also conducting controlled explosions in batteries by inducing the above abuses, to better understand what specific factors lead to the smoke and fire. "By identifying these symptoms or any minute details and changes that we observe in the batteries under abuse, we will be able to detect the issues before hand and develop sensors or alerts to inform the rider. Once a battery starts emitting smoke, there is only about 30-60seconds for escape and that time is very crucial for the rider" he added.

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Incident from Vellore, where an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/electricbike?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#electricbike</a> put on charge overnight is said to have erupted in flames and caused damaged to the house.. resultant smoke, asphyxia and blaze said to have killed father and daughter.. apparently, this was a one week old bike <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElectricVehicles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElectricVehicles</a> <a href="https://t.co/qu6XcMcKKW">pic.twitter.com/qu6XcMcKKW</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1509121710863560711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

In terms of developing such mechanisms to detect battery failure, he said that mobiles have finally evolved to a stage where they can warn of overheating, when completely charged, when battery is losing efficiency etc. Likewise, he believes that further research and studies into EV batteries can evolve a triple redundant mechanism to avoid such mishaps. "As more data is available on the EV batteries and their functioning, we can have the BMS and sensors to alert the rider in case of battery danger. With targeted measures, we could even save the battery from further damage and even prevent damage to the vehicle" he adds.

When comparing EV scooters and cars/trucks, scooters are more prone to such battery issues, as scooters lack the liquid cooling technology, which is found in larger vehicles. Despite the higher standards, even the major global automobile and electric vehicle brands have suffered cases of explosion in their models of Electric cars. It is notable that while mobile phone batteries store approximately 10 Watt hours of energy, electric vehicles store few Kilowatt hour to tens of Kilo Watt hours of energy, which is exponentially higher and thus making the complications of heating, thermal management, etc very high. As a researcher in the field, Aravind feels that such setbacks and mishaps are part of the evolution of the technology, and it would eventually lead to better solutions and safety systems being built into EVs.

Four Electric Vehicles(EVs) emitted smoke and eventually went up in flames over the last four days in India, thus raising alarm over the safety of these E-scooters.

Four Electric Vehicles(EVs) emitted smoke and eventually went up in flames over the last four days in India, thus raising alarm over the safety of these E-scooters. While one incident was reported from Maharashtra, the other three were from Tamil Nadu. Happening at a time when the summer is just beginning to set in across the subcontinent and at a time when people are actively considering switching to Electric vehicles, these events have sparked widespread concerns. To understand the issues that might have led to the recent fires and to know about possible solutions, WION spoke to Aravind Kumar Chandiran, Assistant Professor, Dept of Chemical Engineering, IIT-Madras. Thread: Three instances of #EVs #scooter #Battery emitting lots of smoke, eventually catching fire reported in #TamilNadu #India over last one week In this incident from Trichy, E-bike was parked overnight in a shop, next morning as it was taken out & parked it emitted fumes pic.twitter.com/ucF1Xbsnbc — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) March 30, 2022 × According to him, such issues of batteries emitting smoke and eventually catching fire are not sudden phenomenon. These are actually the result of a build-up(in the battery) that happens over a considerable period of time. The key to tackling such issues, lay in the Battery Management System algorithms. Mobile phones and Electric vehicles have a 'Battery Management System'(BMS), which is meant to manage a rechargeable battery, ensure it operates safely and efficiently. BMS is designed to monitor the parameters(temperature, charging, discharging) associated with the battery pack and its individual cells, apply the collected data to eliminate safety risks and optimize the battery performance. Incident from #Chennai outskirts.. Person was riding his #ElectricVehicle to work, when it started emitting smoke... he parked by the highway only to see flames erupt from the battery section.. Water tanker passing by put out the blaze pic.twitter.com/8XBkB2ODru — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) March 30, 2022 × "Electric vehicles operate in climactic conditions that prevail across India, which includes very cold to hot and humid weather and the battery is required to function across these places. Likewise, there are many users who ride the EV for a few hours every day and for long hauls, whereas others who use it casually, for short rides. There are also differences in charging patterns that the users follow. The algorithms in the BMS, must be extensively tested for these dynamically varying conditions, to facilitate best and safe performance of the batteries" he elaborated. Given that EV are in the initial stages of adoption in India, Aravind Kumar is of the opinion that it is the complete responsibility of the Original Equipment Manufacturers and EV companies to deliver well- tested vehicles, that are suited for Indian conditions and users. However, he also feels that batteries emitting smoke and catching fire/exploding are part of an evolutionary process that was witnessed even in mobile phone batteries, and was eventually perfected. Speaking about the major factors behind damage caused to electric vehicle batteries, he said that it could be thermal abuse(high or low temperature variations), mechanical abuse(accident or crash) and also electric abuse(overcharging and deep discharging cycles). He added that their lab at IIT Madras was also conducting controlled explosions in batteries by inducing the above abuses, to better understand what specific factors lead to the smoke and fire. "By identifying these symptoms or any minute details and changes that we observe in the batteries under abuse, we will be able to detect the issues before hand and develop sensors or alerts to inform the rider. Once a battery starts emitting smoke, there is only about 30-60seconds for escape and that time is very crucial for the rider" he added. Incident from Vellore, where an #electricbike put on charge overnight is said to have erupted in flames and caused damaged to the house.. resultant smoke, asphyxia and blaze said to have killed father and daughter.. apparently, this was a one week old bike #ElectricVehicles pic.twitter.com/qu6XcMcKKW — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) March 30, 2022 × In terms of developing such mechanisms to detect battery failure, he said that mobiles have finally evolved to a stage where they can warn of overheating, when completely charged, when battery is losing efficiency etc. Likewise, he believes that further research and studies into EV batteries can evolve a triple redundant mechanism to avoid such mishaps. "As more data is available on the EV batteries and their functioning, we can have the BMS and sensors to alert the rider in case of battery danger. With targeted measures, we could even save the battery from further damage and even prevent damage to the vehicle" he adds. When comparing EV scooters and cars/trucks, scooters are more prone to such battery issues, as scooters lack the liquid cooling technology, which is found in larger vehicles. Despite the higher standards, even the major global automobile and electric vehicle brands have suffered cases of explosion in their models of Electric cars. It is notable that while mobile phone batteries store approximately 10 Watt hours of energy, electric vehicles store few Kilowatt hour to tens of Kilo Watt hours of energy, which is exponentially higher and thus making the complications of heating, thermal management, etc very high. As a researcher in the field, Aravind feels that such setbacks and mishaps are part of the evolution of the technology, and it would eventually lead to better solutions and safety systems being built into EVs.

Explained: What causes sudden fires in Electric vehicles and how it can be prevented

In a bid to promote a sustainable environment, the world`s highest electric vehicle charging station was inaugurated in Kaza of Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday.

Speaking to ANI, Mahendra Pratap Singh, Kaza Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) said, "This is the world`s highest electric vehicle charging station at 500 ft in Kaza. It is the first station here. If the station gets a good response, more stations would be set up. It will also help to check vehicular pollution. The magistrate further said that two women drove electric vehicles from Manali to Kaza in order to promote a clean and green environment."

"Today, two women have come from Manali to Kaza on the electric vehicle to promote a sustainable environment. The weather nowadays is changing abruptly due to an increase in air pollution and the emission of gases from vehicles is one of the main causes of this pollution," he added.

Further, one of the women who rode an electric vehicle from Manali to Kaza said that all the products including chargers in this station are made in India.

"All the products are made in India here and we travelled from Manali to Kaza to promote sustainable energy. Also, there is a myth that we can not cover long-distance journeys on electric vehicles. So, we both wanted to prove it wrong by riding these electric scooters today from Manali. We had a very comfortable journey," the woman added.

Congratulating both the women for completing their journey to Kaza, the SDM appealed to everybody to promote electric vehicles for a clean and green environment.

In a bid to promote a sustainable environment, the world`s highest electric vehicle charging station was inaugurated in Kaza of Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday.

In a bid to promote a sustainable environment, the world`s highest electric vehicle charging station was inaugurated in Kaza of Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday. Speaking to ANI, Mahendra Pratap Singh, Kaza Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) said, "This is the world`s highest electric vehicle charging station at 500 ft in Kaza. It is the first station here. If the station gets a good response, more stations would be set up. It will also help to check vehicular pollution. The magistrate further said that two women drove electric vehicles from Manali to Kaza in order to promote a clean and green environment." "Today, two women have come from Manali to Kaza on the electric vehicle to promote a sustainable environment. The weather nowadays is changing abruptly due to an increase in air pollution and the emission of gases from vehicles is one of the main causes of this pollution," he added. Further, one of the women who rode an electric vehicle from Manali to Kaza said that all the products including chargers in this station are made in India. "All the products are made in India here and we travelled from Manali to Kaza to promote sustainable energy. Also, there is a myth that we can not cover long-distance journeys on electric vehicles. So, we both wanted to prove it wrong by riding these electric scooters today from Manali. We had a very comfortable journey," the woman added. Congratulating both the women for completing their journey to Kaza, the SDM appealed to everybody to promote electric vehicles for a clean and green environment.

World’s highest electric vehicle charging station inaugurated in India’s northern Himachal state

India has planned to offer $4.6 billion in incentives to companies setting up advanced battery manufacturing facilities as it seeks to promote the use of electric vehicles and cut down its dependence on oil.

The proposal has been drafted by NITI Aayog and is likely to be reviewed by the Modi cabinet in the coming weeks.

According to a government proposal seen by Reuters, India could slash its oil import bills by as much as $40 billion by 2030 if electric vehicles were widely adopted.

The think tank recommended incentives of $4.6 billion by 2030 for companies manufacturing advanced batteries, starting with cash and infrastructure incentives of 9 billion rupees ($122 million) in the next financial year which would then be ratcheted up annually.

Currently, the battery energy storage industry is at a very nascent stage in India with investors being a little apprehensive to invest in a sunrise industry, the proposal said.

India plans to retain its import tax rate of 5% for certain types of batteries, including batteries for electric vehicles, until 2022, but will increase it to 15% thereafter to promote local manufacturing, the document said.

Though keen to reduce its oil dependence and cut down on pollution, India's efforts to promote electric vehicles have been stymied by a lack of investment in manufacturing and infrastructure such as charging stations. Just 3,400 electric cars were sold in the world's second-most populous nation during the last business year, compared to sales of 1.7 million conventional passenger cars.

The policy could benefit battery makers such as South Korea's LG Chem and Japan's Panasonic Corp as well as automakers which have started building EVs in India such as Tata Motors and Mahindra &amp; Mahindra.

While China accounts for 80% of the world`s lithium-ion cell production, India has introduced stricter investment rules for Chinese companies. It has also slowed down the approval processs for some proposals after a deadly border clash between the two countries in June.

The draft proposal said annual domestic demand for battery storage and market size - currently less than 50 gigawatt hours and worth just over to $2 billion - could grow to 230 gigawatt hours and more than $14 billion in ten years time.

It did not offer an estimate of how many electric cars it expected to be on the road by 2030. 
The proposal estimates it would cost firms some $6 billion over five years to set up manufacturing facilities with the support of government subsidies.

(with inputs)

India has planned to offer $4.6 billion in incentives to companies setting up advanced battery manufacturing facilities as it seeks to promote the use of electric vehicles and cut down its dependence on oil.

India has planned to offer $4.6 billion in incentives to companies setting up advanced battery manufacturing facilities as it seeks to promote the use of electric vehicles and cut down its dependence on oil. The proposal has been drafted by NITI Aayog and is likely to be reviewed by the Modi cabinet in the coming weeks. According to a government proposal seen by Reuters, India could slash its oil import bills by as much as $40 billion by 2030 if electric vehicles were widely adopted. The think tank recommended incentives of $4.6 billion by 2030 for companies manufacturing advanced batteries, starting with cash and infrastructure incentives of 9 billion rupees ($122 million) in the next financial year which would then be ratcheted up annually. Currently, the battery energy storage industry is at a very nascent stage in India with investors being a little apprehensive to invest in a sunrise industry, the proposal said. India plans to retain its import tax rate of 5% for certain types of batteries, including batteries for electric vehicles, until 2022, but will increase it to 15% thereafter to promote local manufacturing, the document said. Though keen to reduce its oil dependence and cut down on pollution, India's efforts to promote electric vehicles have been stymied by a lack of investment in manufacturing and infrastructure such as charging stations. Just 3,400 electric cars were sold in the world's second-most populous nation during the last business year, compared to sales of 1.7 million conventional passenger cars. The policy could benefit battery makers such as South Korea's LG Chem and Japan's Panasonic Corp as well as automakers which have started building EVs in India such as Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra. While China accounts for 80% of the world`s lithium-ion cell production, India has introduced stricter investment rules for Chinese companies. It has also slowed down the approval processs for some proposals after a deadly border clash between the two countries in June. The draft proposal said annual domestic demand for battery storage and market size - currently less than 50 gigawatt hours and worth just over to $2 billion - could grow to 230 gigawatt hours and more than $14 billion in ten years time. It did not offer an estimate of how many electric cars it expected to be on the road by 2030. The proposal estimates it would cost firms some $6 billion over five years to set up manufacturing facilities with the support of government subsidies. (with inputs)

India plans $4.6 billion in incentives for battery makers in electric vehicle push

South Korean carmaker Hyundai on Tuesday launched its first fully electric SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle), the Kona, in India. The car has been launched at an introductory price of Rs 25.30 lakh (ex-showroom).

Hyundai has said that the car will have a range of 452 kilometre in a single charge, claiming that the running cost of the Kona will be one-fifth of the traditional (petrol and diesel) engines which are curently in use.

The car is powered by a 139.2 kWh advanced lithium-ion polymer battery which can be fully charged in just about an hour using a fast charger. At the launch, the company announced that it is two chargers to those who are willing to buy this car.

It delivers 134 bhp of power and offers four different driving modes - Eco, Eco+, Comfort and Sport.

India plans to achieve electric mobility by 2030 and taking the initial steps, the government cleared the second iteration of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles or FAME-II in February this year.

The main objective of the scheme is to encourage faster adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles by way of offering upfront incentive on purchase of electric vehicles and also by way of establishing necessary charging infrastructure for them.

In this year's Budget, Finance Ministr Nirmala Sitharaman sops to boost use of electric vehicles. She proposed an additional income tax deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh on interest paid on loans taken to purchase EVs and also asked the GST Council to reduce tax rate on EVs from 12 per cent to five per cent.

Customs duty on certain parts of EVs has also been reduced.

South Korean carmaker Hyundai on Tuesday launched its first fully electric SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle), the Kona, in India. The car has been launched at an introductory price of Rs 25.

South Korean carmaker Hyundai on Tuesday launched its first fully electric SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle), the Kona, in India. The car has been launched at an introductory price of Rs 25.30 lakh (ex-showroom). Hyundai has said that the car will have a range of 452 kilometre in a single charge, claiming that the running cost of the Kona will be one-fifth of the traditional (petrol and diesel) engines which are curently in use. The car is powered by a 139.2 kWh advanced lithium-ion polymer battery which can be fully charged in just about an hour using a fast charger. At the launch, the company announced that it is two chargers to those who are willing to buy this car. It delivers 134 bhp of power and offers four different driving modes - Eco, Eco+, Comfort and Sport. India plans to achieve electric mobility by 2030 and taking the initial steps, the government cleared the second iteration of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles or FAME-II in February this year. The main objective of the scheme is to encourage faster adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles by way of offering upfront incentive on purchase of electric vehicles and also by way of establishing necessary charging infrastructure for them. In this year's Budget, Finance Ministr Nirmala Sitharaman sops to boost use of electric vehicles. She proposed an additional income tax deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh on interest paid on loans taken to purchase EVs and also asked the GST Council to reduce tax rate on EVs from 12 per cent to five per cent. Customs duty on certain parts of EVs has also been reduced.

Hyundai launches Kona EV in India in line with government's push for electric vehicles

South Korean auto major Hyundai Tuesday said automobile manufacturers will need time and proper long-term regulations for introducing electric vehicles (EV) for fleets in India.

The comments have come amid reports that the Indian government plans to make it mandatory for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-to-order-uber-ola-to-go-electric-by-april-2026-report-224991">taxi aggregators</a> to have 40 per cent of their vehicles to be EVs by 2026.

The company, which is present in India through a wholly-owned subsidiary Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), also said it is gearing up to introduce its premium electric vehicle Kona, next month, which will be locally assembled at its Chennai plant.

Speaking with reporters here, HMIL Managing Director and CEO S S Kim said while the company is yet to learn officially from the government about EV requirements for cab aggregators like Ola and Uber, if such a thing were to happen, "in terms of timing it will be too fast".

"We do believe it is in the right direction but for the automobile manufacturers we need time to prepare for such transitions," he said. 
Kim further said that more clarity is required on the road map for the conversion of fleets into EVs.

In March, Hyundai Motor Group had announced that it wouldn't invest $300 million in India's ride-hailing service provider Ola. The investment will be jointly made by group firms Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corporation.

Currently, Hyundai offers its EVs in the premium segment and as per its agreement with Ola, it will supply compact sedan Xcent and hatchback Grandi10.

Last week, a media report said several ministries and Niti Aayog had recommended gradual conversion of fleets of taxi aggregators like Ola and Uber to EVs, targeting 40 per cent of the total, by 2026.

When asked if Hyundai is developing small EVs which could be used by taxi aggregators, Kim said, "We are developing but we need time to come up with more meaningful mobility solutions for India."

Commenting on Hyundai's plans for EVs in India, Kim said the company is looking to bring its premium model Kona next month.

"Kona will bring some change in the Indian market in terms of customer's acceptance of EVs. It will have a long range," he said.

Currently, EVs in India have not been able to gain traction due to the range and driving-related issues besides charging infrastructure constraints, he noted.

Hyundai will provide its Kona customers in India home charging equipment, he added.

The model will be locally assembled from imports of completely knocked down units from Korea, he said adding, "We hope to sell hundreds of units annually in India."

Hyundai has set up a separate assembly line at the Chennai plant as part of its overall $1 billion investment till 2020.

He also said in future if there is demand for EVs in India, Hyundai would consider setting up of battery production in the country, stressing that for a viable business the minimum volume would be around 50,000 units annually for a vehicle like Kona.&nbsp;

South Korean auto major Hyundai Tuesday said automobile manufacturers will need time and proper long-term regulations for introducing electric vehicles (EV) for fleets in India.

South Korean auto major Hyundai Tuesday said automobile manufacturers will need time and proper long-term regulations for introducing electric vehicles (EV) for fleets in India. The comments have come amid reports that the Indian government plans to make it mandatory for taxi aggregators to have 40 per cent of their vehicles to be EVs by 2026. The company, which is present in India through a wholly-owned subsidiary Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), also said it is gearing up to introduce its premium electric vehicle Kona, next month, which will be locally assembled at its Chennai plant. Speaking with reporters here, HMIL Managing Director and CEO S S Kim said while the company is yet to learn officially from the government about EV requirements for cab aggregators like Ola and Uber, if such a thing were to happen, "in terms of timing it will be too fast". "We do believe it is in the right direction but for the automobile manufacturers we need time to prepare for such transitions," he said. Kim further said that more clarity is required on the road map for the conversion of fleets into EVs. In March, Hyundai Motor Group had announced that it wouldn't invest $300 million in India's ride-hailing service provider Ola. The investment will be jointly made by group firms Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corporation. Currently, Hyundai offers its EVs in the premium segment and as per its agreement with Ola, it will supply compact sedan Xcent and hatchback Grandi10. Last week, a media report said several ministries and Niti Aayog had recommended gradual conversion of fleets of taxi aggregators like Ola and Uber to EVs, targeting 40 per cent of the total, by 2026. When asked if Hyundai is developing small EVs which could be used by taxi aggregators, Kim said, "We are developing but we need time to come up with more meaningful mobility solutions for India." Commenting on Hyundai's plans for EVs in India, Kim said the company is looking to bring its premium model Kona next month. "Kona will bring some change in the Indian market in terms of customer's acceptance of EVs. It will have a long range," he said. Currently, EVs in India have not been able to gain traction due to the range and driving-related issues besides charging infrastructure constraints, he noted. Hyundai will provide its Kona customers in India home charging equipment, he added. The model will be locally assembled from imports of completely knocked down units from Korea, he said adding, "We hope to sell hundreds of units annually in India." Hyundai has set up a separate assembly line at the Chennai plant as part of its overall $1 billion investment till 2020. He also said in future if there is demand for EVs in India, Hyundai would consider setting up of battery production in the country, stressing that for a viable business the minimum volume would be around 50,000 units annually for a vehicle like Kona.

Long-term regulations required to introduce EVs for fleets in India: Hyundai

India&#39;s most influential government think-tank has recommended lowering taxes and interest rates for loans on electric vehicles, while capping sales of conventional cars, signalling a dramatic shift in policy in one of the world&#39;s fastest growing auto markets.

A draft of the 90-page blueprint, seen by Reuters, also suggests the government opens a battery plant by the end of 2018 and uses tax revenues from the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles to set up charging stations for electric vehicles.

The recommendations in a draft report by Niti Aayog, the planning body headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are aimed at electrifying all vehicles in the country by 2032 and will likely shape a new mobility policy, said government and industry sources.

The report&#39;s focus solely on electric vehicles marks a shift away from the current policy that incentivises both hybrid vehicles - which combine fossil fuel and electric power - and electric cars, and is worrying some automakers.

&quot;India&#39;s potential to create a new mobility paradigm that is shared, electric and connected could have a significant impact domestically and globally,&quot; said a draft version of the report, titled Transformative Mobility Solutions for India, which will be made public this week.

India&#39;s plan to leapfrog hybrid technology comes after China announced aggressive measures last year to push sales of plug-in vehicles including subsidies, research funding and rules designed to discourage fossil-fuel cars in big cities.

It would also mark a radical response by India as it looks to cut its oil import bill to half by 2030 and reduce emissions as part of its commitment to the Paris climate treaty.

Officials acknowledge the blueprint faces challenges. High battery costs would push up car prices and a lack of charging stations and other infrastructure means car makers, who have been consulted on the proposals ahead of publication, would hesitate to make the necessary investment in the technology.

&quot;If we accelerate electric vehicle growth it will be a disruption for the auto sector and would require investment, but if we&#39;re not able to adapt quickly we risk being net importers of batteries,&quot; said a government source involved in the plans. &quot;There has been resistance from car makers.&quot;

India&#39;s top-selling carmaker Maruti Suzuki has invested in so-called mild-hybrid technology, which makes less use of electric power than full hybrids, while Toyota Motor Corp sells its luxury hybrid Camry sedan in the country.

Mahindra &amp; Mahindra is the only manufacturer of electric vehicles in India.

Shift in policy

India, in 2015, launched a scheme called Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles under which it offered incentives for clean fuel technology cars to boost their sales to up to 7 million vehicles by 2020.

Despite incentives as high as 140,000 rupees ($2,175) on some cars, the scheme has made little progress, with the sales of electric and hybrid cars making up only a fraction of the 3 million passenger vehicles sold in India in 2016.

The scheme, which expired on March 31, has now been extended by six months while the future policy is worked out, two government officials said. Lack of clarity on policy risks delaying investment in the auto sector, one official added.

The new Niti Aayog report, co-produced with U.S. consultancy Rocky Mountain Institute, outlines a 15-year plan, broken into three phases starting in 2017.

&quot;Limit registration of conventional vehicles through public lotteries and complement that with preferential registration for electric vehicles, similar to that in China,&quot; the report said, in one of its most radical proposals.

To kick-start the shift, the report suggests bulk procurement of electric vehicles, building standardised, swappable batteries for two- and three-wheelers to bring down their cost and having favourable tariff structures for charging cars.

&quot;Prioritise battery and charging infrastructure development,&quot; the report states while setting a 2018 goal for setting up a 250 megawatt per hour battery plant with an aim to reach one gigawatt of production by 2020.

It also recommends setting up battery swapping stations by 2018, common manufacturing facilities for components and increasing subsidies on all battery electric vehicles to bring them to cost parity with conventional models by 2025.

Other suggestions in the blueprint include incentivising the use of electric cars as taxis by lowering taxes, interest rates on loans for purchases and electricity tariffs for fleet operators, and lowering duties on makers of such fleet cars.

Puneet Gupta, South Asia manager at consultant IHS Markit, said the government would need to lead the change with generous incentives to achieve its goal.

&quot;This is one of the most radical changes the government is talking about,&quot; said Gupta. &quot;All cars being electric is a distant dream.&quot;

(Reuters)

It would also mark a radical response by India as it looks to cut its oil import bill to half by 2030

India's most influential government think-tank has recommended lowering taxes and interest rates for loans on electric vehicles, while capping sales of conventional cars, signalling a dramatic shift in policy in one of the world's fastest growing auto markets. A draft of the 90-page blueprint, seen by Reuters, also suggests the government opens a battery plant by the end of 2018 and uses tax revenues from the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles to set up charging stations for electric vehicles. The recommendations in a draft report by Niti Aayog, the planning body headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are aimed at electrifying all vehicles in the country by 2032 and will likely shape a new mobility policy, said government and industry sources. The report's focus solely on electric vehicles marks a shift away from the current policy that incentivises both hybrid vehicles - which combine fossil fuel and electric power - and electric cars, and is worrying some automakers. "India's potential to create a new mobility paradigm that is shared, electric and connected could have a significant impact domestically and globally," said a draft version of the report, titled Transformative Mobility Solutions for India, which will be made public this week. India's plan to leapfrog hybrid technology comes after China announced aggressive measures last year to push sales of plug-in vehicles including subsidies, research funding and rules designed to discourage fossil-fuel cars in big cities. It would also mark a radical response by India as it looks to cut its oil import bill to half by 2030 and reduce emissions as part of its commitment to the Paris climate treaty. Officials acknowledge the blueprint faces challenges. High battery costs would push up car prices and a lack of charging stations and other infrastructure means car makers, who have been consulted on the proposals ahead of publication, would hesitate to make the necessary investment in the technology. "If we accelerate electric vehicle growth it will be a disruption for the auto sector and would require investment, but if we're not able to adapt quickly we risk being net importers of batteries," said a government source involved in the plans. "There has been resistance from car makers." India's top-selling carmaker Maruti Suzuki has invested in so-called mild-hybrid technology, which makes less use of electric power than full hybrids, while Toyota Motor Corp sells its luxury hybrid Camry sedan in the country. Mahindra & Mahindra is the only manufacturer of electric vehicles in India. Shift in policy India, in 2015, launched a scheme called Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles under which it offered incentives for clean fuel technology cars to boost their sales to up to 7 million vehicles by 2020. Despite incentives as high as 140,000 rupees ($2,175) on some cars, the scheme has made little progress, with the sales of electric and hybrid cars making up only a fraction of the 3 million passenger vehicles sold in India in 2016. The scheme, which expired on March 31, has now been extended by six months while the future policy is worked out, two government officials said. Lack of clarity on policy risks delaying investment in the auto sector, one official added. The new Niti Aayog report, co-produced with U.S. consultancy Rocky Mountain Institute, outlines a 15-year plan, broken into three phases starting in 2017. "Limit registration of conventional vehicles through public lotteries and complement that with preferential registration for electric vehicles, similar to that in China," the report said, in one of its most radical proposals. To kick-start the shift, the report suggests bulk procurement of electric vehicles, building standardised, swappable batteries for two- and three-wheelers to bring down their cost and having favourable tariff structures for charging cars. "Prioritise battery and charging infrastructure development," the report states while setting a 2018 goal for setting up a 250 megawatt per hour battery plant with an aim to reach one gigawatt of production by 2020. It also recommends setting up battery swapping stations by 2018, common manufacturing facilities for components and increasing subsidies on all battery electric vehicles to bring them to cost parity with conventional models by 2025. Other suggestions in the blueprint include incentivising the use of electric cars as taxis by lowering taxes, interest rates on loans for purchases and electricity tariffs for fleet operators, and lowering duties on makers of such fleet cars. Puneet Gupta, South Asia manager at consultant IHS Markit, said the government would need to lead the change with generous incentives to achieve its goal. "This is one of the most radical changes the government is talking about," said Gupta. "All cars being electric is a distant dream." (Reuters)

India's green car plan prioritises electric vehicles over hybrids