The government e-mobility plan that aims at having only electric vehicles (EVs) plying on Indian roads by 2030, can provide a big impetus to the electrical equipment industry, according to Anant Geete, Union minister for heavy industries and public enterprises. Geete was delivering the keynote address at the recent IEEMA Convention 2017 in Mumbai.
“E-mobility will be a big boost for IEEMA members and they have to start preparing from today,” felt Geete. It may be mentioned that the Union government has notified FAME India Scheme [Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India] for implementation with effect from April 1, 2015, with the objective to support hybrid/electric vehicles market development and manufacturing eco-system. The first phase of the scheme that was to be implemented for a period of two years (FY16 and FY17) was extended by six months, the minister informed.
India’s 100 per cent dependency on imports for Li-on batteries is an unhealthy sign, feels Geete
Discussing the e-mobility project, Anant Geete said the main challenge was with respect to the lithium-ion battery, currently the choice for electric vehicles worldwide. There is no domestic competency as yet in manufacturing lithium-ion (Li-on) batteries and hence the dependence on imports was inevitable, felt Geete. Even the subsidy envisaged under the aforementioned FAME India scheme was applicable on vehicles, and not on batteries, the minister informed. This 100 per cent dependency on imports for Li-on batteries was an unhealthy sign, cautioned Geete.
Geete also said that even though foreign companies are being encouraged to manufacture in India under the “Make in India” scheme, the government and especially his ministry was committed to support local enterprise. The government will continue to particularly support local MSMEs (medium, small and micro enterprises), asserted Geete. His assurance was significant considering that majority of members of industry body IEEMA belong to the small and medium category.
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