Electric cars need more power!

Crude prices have come down today, so it’s a bit better. Yet the fact remains that India imports almost 80% of its oil needs. So ideally we should be researching passionately on alternate fuel sources, looking at ways and means to reduce this dependence on imports. In fact we should be encouraging electric cars as it could probably be the best way ahead. There was so much pride and joy when we read about REVA, India’s first indigenous electric car.

Yet strangely, instead of encouraging, we seem to be discouraging electric cars. Earlier, there were 22 members of the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), out of which only 7 are today in existence. Shockingly, 800 dealerships have shut down.  Why this plight? Lack of subsidy and delay in implementation of the electric mobility policy has continued to impact the sales of electric vehicles. Isn’t this really pathetic? Instead of going all out to encourage manufacture and sale of electric cars, there seem to be more impediments on its road.

Subsides to the sector were taken away in 2012. And there was hope that the Modi Govt would have brought back subsidies and probably give more sops to encourage the sector. Looks like finally there is light for the sector. The much awaited National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 is to be launched early next fiscal. The Govt plans to spend Rs. 1,000 crore in the first year on the programme. Formulated in 2011, it will provide subsidies worth Rs.14,000 crore to electric vehicle manufacturers over the next six years. The target is to sell six-seven million electric and hybrid vehicles, including four-five million two-wheelers and save 2.2- 2.5 million tonnes of liquid fuel by 2020.

Wow! That’s finally good news. Does that mean 2015 would mark the year of electric cars taking wings? Maybe ramp-ups from M&M’s Reva and maybe we might see a Tesla too? Another area revving to go

is that of three-wheelers – erickshaws where some manufacturers have already planned and designed these electric rickshaws.