More Than 285,000 Electric Buyers Have Received Subsidies Under FAME Program
The Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises (MHIPE) has reported that around 285,000 purchasers of electric and hybrid vehicles have profited by the subsidies are given under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India (FAME-India) program to the tune of Rs.3.6 billion. The adoption of the FAME program was to give a push to early adoption and market creation for both the hybrids and EVs. The FAME program incorporates vehicles – two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers and public transports like buses. The incentives to be given depend on the type and the make of the vehicle. In addition to this, the ministry has likewise revealed that the government has so far sanctioned 5,095 electric buses to 64 city and state transport corporation for infra-city operations, 400 for intercity operations and 100 for last mile connectivity to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) under Phase-II of the FAME program. The expected cost to the government for this initiative is around Rs. 1.75 billion and will be borne by the Department of Heavy Industry.
Hero Electric sticks to its plan of expansion amid slowdown
Hero Electric has decided to stick to its plan of capacity expansion programmes despite the prevailing demand slowdown in the domestic market. Naveen Munjal, the Managing director said that inspite of the sales of electric two-wheelers were subdued in the first half of this financial year, the company is expecting the sales to rise up with the increase in demand in the coming years as companies like Bajaj Auto enter the segment. Hero Electric is in plans to invest Rs. 700 crore in the coming three years in order to develop new products, expand dealer network and incease the production capacity to retain leadership position in this segment. He also mentioned that the demand will grow very very quickly. To cash in on future opportunities, Hero Electric, which has a single manufacturing facility in Ludhiana, has started scouting for locations to set up a second unit in the country. Its Ludhiana plant can produce 80,000-90,000 units per annum.
Suppliers of the E-Bus quote high prices for tenders under FACME II scheme
Electric Bus suppliers have quoted high prices in tenders floated under the Centre’s subsidy scheme because of the payment security risks in states with weaker transport departments and tough bidding conditions. Few state transport departments are known to have cancelled the electric bus tenders and floated them fresh while others are negotiating with the original equipment suppliers over prices. Hence, the states have to speed up the process to ensure completion of delivery of the buses in 12 months to avail subsidy under the phase II of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric (& Hybrid) Vehicles scheme.
MG Motor And Fortum Partnered For The Installation Of Public DC Fast Charging Station In NCR
MG Motor India has partnered with Fortum, a Finland-based energy major. This was in order to install its first public 50 kW DC fast charging station in Gurugram. With effect of this partnership, MG Motor and Fortum will be setting up four fast-charging stations in Delhi-NCR. This initiative has come ahead of the launch of the automaker’s first pure electric-car, MG ZS EV, which has been scheduled to launch in India in December 2019. Moreover the other charging stations will be set up in South Delhi, West Delhi and Noida. Besides this, the company also mentioned that there are six more public 50 KW DC fast chargers installed by the company at MG’s Dealer locations in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.
MG Motors to use an Ecosystem approach to launch EV in India
MG Motors, British Automobile maker is planning to explore the electric vehicle segment in India by leveraging an ecosystem approach. The MG Motor India President and managing director Rajeev Chaba said that with their upcoming electric SUV MG ZS EV, has said it is looking to go “beyond tokenism” with its foray into the segment. He said that the company is in plans to develop the entire ecosystem around electric cars in India. In addition to this he said that the company is partnering for charging infrastructure for battery lifecycle management and is also exploring a subscription model for buyers. MG Motors is in plans of launching its electric SUV MG ZS EV, with a launch price of INR 25 Lakh.
Tata Motors And Lithium Urban Technologies Partner For The Supply Of 500 Electric Vehicles
Tata Motors and Lithium Urban Technologies which is India’s largest electric vehicle fleet provider has announced entering into a long term partnership to offer electric mobility solutions in the market across passenger, mass transit and freight segments. According to this agreement, Lithium Urban Technologies will be adding 400 units of the long-range Tata Tigor Sedan EV to its fleet which will be delivered and deployed across the nation by the end of the financial year 2019-2020. The rest 100 electric vehicles will include Tata’s upcoming EVs like the Nexon EV for corporate leadership transport services. The long range Tata Tigor EV comes with an extended range of 213 km on a single charge and being sold to both fleet owners and private buyers.
Prakash Javadekar Took An Electric Car To The Parliament Asking The People To Join The Fight Against Pollution
Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister, took an electric car to the parliament as it convened for its Winter Session on Monday. Javadekar, handling the environment portfolio said that the government was slowly shifting to electric cars which are pollution free. He even insisted on using the electric cars and public transport to the public in order to take part in the fight against pollution. Moreover, MP Mansukh Mandviya from BJP rode a bicycle to the parliament. This step came after the severe air pollution caused in Delhi and several parts of northern India which is an annual affair. Delhi was blanketed in a thick smog for four consecutive days till Friday, as unfavourable weather hampered the dispersion of pollutants. Higher officials, including MPs, skipped a meeting called on Firday by a parliament panel to find solutions after Delhi was affected with a thick layer of smog for four consecutive days.
India-made electric scooter, Peugeot Motorcycles inducted in French presidential fleet
e-Ludix, India made electric scooter, Peugeot Motorcycles – a subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra is the first electric two-wheeler to be included in French presidential fleet. Mahindra and Mahindra has acquired Peugeot Motorcycles by 51% in 2015. Mahindra is India’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer and is yet to launch an electric two-wheeler in the country at a time when Indian government is pushing the automakers towards electric vehicles with the increasing air pollution.
