Categories: Automobile

Even though the holiday season is over, celebrations are still going on for the manufacturers of electric vehicles (EVs), with November sales likely to match the record established during the Navratri and Diwali seasons last month.

According to information from the government website Vahan, which registers vehicle registrations, EV sales this month have already surpassed 99,000 units, breaking the previous record of 115,861 units established in October.

According to industry officials, this is due to the fact that backlog bookings are still being sold and that more and more car owners are becoming aware of EVs.

More electric two-wheeler product introductions at competitive price points are expected over the course of the next two years, which will contribute to increasing their uptake, according to Gill.

Although the country’s EV ecosystem is still growing, two- and three-wheelers are driving adoption as more people rely on them for last-mile connectivity, helped by their affordable operating costs.

According to the past seven months, EV sales will surpass a million units in 2022–23, an increase of 84% from the previous fiscal year.

According to SMEV, sales of electric two-wheelers are anticipated to increase by 117% year over year to reach 750,000 units this fiscal year, while sales of three-wheelers are anticipated to increase by 12% to 200,000 units.

Considering their greater price, electric car sales are still relatively modest, but in the first half of the current fiscal year, they increased 268% year over year to 18,142 units. According to the Vahan dashboard, 4,935 electric car units were sold in October.

The market is predicted to expand quickly since EVs have substantially lower operating costs than cars and trucks fueled by gasoline and diesel.

“At Rs 1.1 per km of operating costs (for an electric car), the monthly expense is a fraction of what is incurred driving a petrol/diesel car, making it simply unbeatable,” said Vivek Srivatsa, head of sales, marketing, and service strategy at Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, which dominated the EV passenger vehicle market with a share of about 85% and has the largest electric car portfolio.

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have been stepping up production as EV demand rises and supply constraints loosen.

“The waiting time has been shorter as production increases by multiples. Now that electric OEMs can provide vehicles more quickly, “Hemal Thakkar, a director at the credit rating company Crisil, remarked

The entry of established automobile firms into the EV market has increased consumer and financial confidence. Dealers claim that even after the festival season, the switch to EVs is unabated.

According to Nikunj Sanghi, an Alwar-based automobile dealer, “the affordability and running cost, notably in two- and three-wheelers, have substantially improved, making it a feasible choice for consumers.”

While the acceptance of EVs is progressing steadily, it will still take some time for them to become widely used.

Due to rising fuel prices and consumers’ preference for cleaner and greener modes of transportation, experts claim low-speed scooter adoption is accelerating in the hinterlands.

After declining in FY21, EV sales increased by more than 200% in FY22, making up close to 3% of all vehicle sales in India.

Since the government updated upward incentives under the Fame 2 plan, sales of electric two-wheelers have increased over the past 8 to 12 months.

By 2030, the Narendra Modi-led administration wants EVs to account for 30% of personal automobiles, 70% of commercial vehicles, and 80% of two- and three-wheelers.

To promote EV adoption across the nation, the government has been collaborating with the Fame (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles in India) and PLI (Production-linked Incentive) initiatives.

In India, sales of electric two-wheelers are predicted to increase by 24 times from their current level to reach 17.69 million units by 2030, according to a report by venture capital firm Blume.

The Vehicle Retail Data for October’22 was made public by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), who also forecasted the potential data by 2030.

October 22 witnessed an overall increase in auto retail of 48%. All kinds of Dealership outlets had exceptionally good feelings because the majority of the month fell during the holiday season.

For the first time, overall retail concluded in the black by gaining 8% from the pre-covid month of 2019. Except for 3W, which experienced a little decline of -0.6%, all other categories—including 2W, Passenger Vehicle, Trac, and Commercial Vehicle —saw increases of 6%, 18%, 47%, and 13%, respectively.

The auto industry is happy with Festive’22 since it was the best in the previous four years for the first time, with customers from every category turning out in large numbers to participate in holiday shopping.

The Passenger Vehicle sector had its greatest year in a decade, outpacing 2020 numbers by 2%, as was previously predicted. Retail sales as a whole increased by 6% compared to the pre-Covid holiday in 2019. With 2W, 3W, Commercial Vehicle, Passenger Vehicle, and Trac rising by 2%, 2%, 14%, 18%, and 55%, respectively, all the categories were in the green.

For the first time, the 2W segment increased by 6% in comparison to Oct. 19, a pre-covid year, and by a staggering 51% YoY. Due to the big holidays of Navratri and Deepawali being in the same month, dealerships experienced a spike in business in October. Dealers claim that although rural attitudes have already begun to improve, it must continue for at least the next three to four months. In addition, fresh product introductions and beneficial client programs were crucial in reviving demand.

Due to increasing government investment and infrastructure initiatives, it is projected that the market for Commercial vehicles would remain strong. While the Passenger Vehicle market continues to perform better than the competition, the demand in the entry-level market is still a little sluggish.

The majority of OEMs will now transition to producing automobiles that adhere to OBD-2 standards. As new vehicle categories enter the market, prices will rise significantly across the board. Many clients are also anticipating the arrival of vehicles made in the upcoming year as year-end approaches.

Keeping electric scooters safe is very easy, all you need to understand is that it’s not an ICE scooter. Electric scooters are different and they require some very specific care.

Even though electric scooters are becoming more and more popular, a few fire incidents have prompted questions about safety. See advice on how to keep the battery in your e-scooters from igniting.

Similar to smartphones, your EVs have lithium-ion batteries, but unlike smartphones, they are frequently kept in direct sunlight, which causes them to heat up and catch fire.

Summertime’s highest temperatures might cause the battery to overheat and result in fire occurrences. Faulty charging is one of the primary causes of these fire mishaps, in addition to the weather problem. Accidents occur when people use chargers that give the incorrect output current and voltage.

These are technical problems that could start a fire. Accidental damages can also start a fire because they can physically harm the battery and rupture the cells, which can start a fire.

Tips for your electric scooter safety

• Charge the battery only after using it for 30 to 40 minutes to give it time to cool down.
• Avoid using any other replacement or locally produced charger when charging the battery; always use the OEM (original equipment manufacturer)-supplied authentic charger.
• Contact your electric scooter dealer if the battery case is cracked or filled with water. Keep the battery out of the way of heat sources, fire hazards, and caustic or flammable materials.
• Parking your electric scooter in a shady area rather than all day in the hot sun is one of the most crucial and fundamental safety measures you can take.
• The charger should be unplugged when the battery is not charging, and both the battery and the charger should be maintained in a dry, sterile, and well-ventilated area.

The typical range of an electric scooter is between 80 and 120 kilometers, but over time, battery deterioration reduces this range. For both the longevity of the car and the battery, it becomes crucial to maintain the battery of your EV.

 Tips for maintaining the health of the battery

• Try to keep it at a normal temperature and stay away from extreme heat.
• Avoid non-genuine products and always use real chargers.
• After driving the electric scooter, wait 1-2 hours before charging them again.
• Never keep batteries fully discharged.
• Avoid quick charging and only use it when necessary.
• When parked, try to stay out of direct sunlight.

India’s total fleet of electric vehicles is anticipated to reach 5 crores by 2030, per KPMG. This offers tremendous potential for individuals involved in the charging infrastructure. A significant increase in electric car sales is anticipated in India; according to KPMG research, Electric vehicle charging is the next big opportunity in India. This is true despite the present low penetration rate of barely 1%.

According to the report, India’s electric mobility story has been developing quickly as EVs gradually become more commonplace. In the most recent fiscal year, EV sales increased by a factor of three. The expansion is driven by the two-wheeler, three-wheeler, and bus categories. It stated that as of March 2022, there were more than 1 million EVs on Indian roads. By 2030, there will probably be 45-50 million EVs, according to the report.

This presents a significant opportunity for the EV charging sector. According to the survey, there are currently just 1,700 public charging stations available in the nation, which is insufficient to sustain the rise of EVs.

According to the report, there has been a significant government push for the adoption of charging networks, and interest from both public and commercial entities has grown. This will probably attract the necessary investments in this field. The market for charging infrastructure is anticipated to expand quickly due to several factors that will affect the kinds and amounts of charging solutions required.

According to KPMG, the two-wheeler market has a development potential for the charging business of 15% to 20%. In addition, growth of between 50% and 60% is anticipated in 2030. Personal passenger vehicle sales are anticipated to increase by 8–10% by 2025, 35–40% by 2030, and 15-20% by 2025, respectively. Between 2025 and 2030, the number of four-wheeled commercial vehicles will increase by 15-20%, reaching 60-65%.

According to the analysis, there would be a 10-12% increase in electric bus charging in 2025 and a 45–50% increase in 2030. According to the research, three-wheeler sales should increase by 45–50% in 2025 and 90–95% in 2030. However, given that the majority of India’s vehicles are two- and four-wheelers, it was noted that the country’s requirements for charging infrastructure are special. In contrast, four-wheelers are more prevalent in developed nations.

According to the report, home/workplace and fleet charging solutions have the most promise. Eventually, public charging will be feasible as the market develops.

Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, claims that within a year, all-electric vehicles in India will cost the same as internal combustion engine vehicles. This will save a lot of money on fossil fuels.

Nitin Gadkari even stated that the government is opposed to any company making automobiles in China and selling them in India, despite claims that Tesla, the largest electric car maker in the US, has postponed plans to sell in India.

According to Gadkari, Indian automakers can build the best electric vehicles. It makes little difference if one or two are absent. We told a corporation that building cars in China would prevent you from selling them there. If you want to relocate here, you can manufacture there. I think Indian automakers can produce better cars than those made in other nations. Our upcoming designers have talent and are progressing well.

The minister acknowledged that the idea to mandate vehicles to have air-conditioned cabins was dropped after taking the car industry’s advice. “I agree that I considered your advice when pulling the air-conditioned vehicle. Other countries have set driving hours for their drivers. They travel here for up to 18 hours. They operate vehicles in cruel conditions, he claimed.

Under a plan made public by the railways, all of their diesel, biofuel, and natural gas-powered vehicles will be replaced by the end of 2025. This gives the Center’s ambitious plan to electrify all of India by 2030 a significant boost.

Large charging infrastructure would be built due to the strategy at important office buildings, parking lots, and railroad stations. By 2030, India must have 46,000 EV charging stations to meet the international criteria.

Apart from that, Indian Railways have set goals for establishing Electric Vehicle charging stations and retiring 20% of its fleet by the end of December 2023, 60% by the end of 2024, and 100% by the end of 2025.

It won’t be essential to replace inspection vehicles in divisional offices and attached units during the initial phase. However, officials would need the cars for regular journeys to rural areas lacking facilities for charging.

Additionally, it will offer a charging infrastructure that is reasonable and convenient for all customers. Passengers and guests are included in this. The general managers of the zonal railway were requested to give their officers instructions to mark parking spots inside offices and stations to install EV-charging infrastructure.

EV charging stations will be installed in these locations by CPOs (charging point operators). To use the charging infrastructure, the railways will impose a parking fee. CPOs will ensure that all compatible EV owners have access, and they will offer an app that allows EV users to look for and reserve chargers and pay for them online.

The Central Electricity Authority and other departments or organizations would publish safety standards to install the chargers.

India’s total fleet of electric vehicles is anticipated to reach 5 crores by 2030, per KPMG. This offers tremendous potential for individuals involved in the charging infrastructure. A significant increase in electric car sales is anticipated in India; according to KPMG research, Electric vehicle charging is the next big opportunity in India. This is true despite the present low penetration rate of barely 1%.

According to the report, India’s electric mobility story has been developing quickly as EVs gradually become more commonplace. In the most recent fiscal year, EV sales increased by a factor of three. The expansion is driven by the two-wheeler, three-wheeler, and bus categories. It stated that as of March 2022, there were more than 1 million EVs on Indian roads. By 2030, there will probably be 45-50 million EVs, according to the report.

This presents a significant opportunity for the EV charging sector. According to the survey, there are currently just 1,700 public charging stations available in the nation, which is insufficient to sustain the rise of EVs.

According to the report, there has been a significant government push for the adoption of charging networks, and interest from both public and commercial entities has grown. This will probably attract the necessary investments in this field. The market for charging infrastructure is anticipated to expand quickly due to several factors that will affect the kinds and amounts of charging solutions required.

According to KPMG, the two-wheeler market has a development potential for the charging business of 15% to 20%. In addition, growth of between 50% and 60% is anticipated in 2030. Personal passenger vehicle sales are anticipated to increase by 8–10% by 2025, 35–40% by 2030, and 15-20% by 2025, respectively. Between 2025 and 2030, the number of four-wheeled commercial vehicles will increase by 15-20%, reaching 60-65%.

According to the analysis, there would be a 10-12% increase in electric bus charging in 2025 and a 45–50% increase in 2030. According to the research, three-wheeler sales should increase by 45–50% in 2025 and 90–95% in 2030. However, given that the majority of India’s vehicles are two- and four-wheelers, it was noted that the country’s requirements for charging infrastructure are special. In contrast, four-wheelers are more prevalent in developed nations.

According to the report, home/workplace and fleet charging solutions have the most promise. Eventually, public charging will be feasible as the market develops.

The Yogi Adityanath administration unveiled a three-pronged production strategy for new electric vehicles. The fundamental objective of the policy is to make Uttar Pradesh a global hub for producing electric vehicles, batteries, and related machinery, in addition to developing an eco-friendly transportation infrastructure. By utilizing its potential and chances in the EV sector, the state can also fulfill its goal of becoming a trillion-dollar economy with the aid of this strategy.

The program provides three-fold incentives that benefit consumers who buy EVs, EV manufacturers, and suppliers of batteries and other relevant parts, as well as service providers that provide infrastructure for charging and exchanging EVs.

An official spokeswoman claims that the program provides purchasers with alluring discounts to expand the state’s market for electric vehicles. All-electric vehicles registered and purchased in Uttar Pradesh are exempt 100% from road tax and registration fees for the first three years of the policy. The same exemption would be available in the fourth and fifth years if the car was bought, registered, and made in Uttar Pradesh.

The idea also includes a purchase subsidy program with a $500 billion budget cap. This will be announced for a year across all EV market sectors. The initiative, which is only effective for the first 2 lakh transactions, offers a 15% rebate on the factory cost of buying electric two-wheelers up to Rs. 5,000 per vehicle. Depending on the first 50,000 purchases, electric three-wheelers cost Rs. 12,000 each. For the first 25,000 electric vehicle purchases, the price will be Rs. 1 lakh. Rs. 20 lakh is available for the first 400 electric bus purchases. 10% discount on the first 1000 orders of e-goods carriers totaling Rs. 1 lakh.

However, the regulation will promote EV purchases among government workers. Advances are also permitted by the state government. The program also contains clauses permitting substantial investments in producing EV batteries and electric vehicles.

The new policy is a 3% capital subsidy at a maximum rate of Rs 1,000 crore per project. In the state, only two Ultra Mega battery projects may be established. To establish battery manufacturing facilities with the least capacity of 1GWh, each project must invest Rs 1,500 crore.

Rs 5 crore in capital assistance is provided for each MSME project. A capital subsidy of up to Rs 90 crore is available for large projects.

The policy also allows manufacturers to get their stamp duty paid. The Integrated EV Project and Ultra Mega Battery Project will receive 100% funding to establish facilities anywhere in the UP. For Mega, Large, and MSME projects, 50% will be allocated to Ghaziabad and the Gautam Buddha Nagar district, 75% to Pashchimanchal and Madhyanchal (excluding Ghaziabad and the Gautam Buddha Nagar district), and 100% to the Purvanchal and Bundelkhand region.

Government agencies, PSUs, and private businesses have also provided incentives for establishing centers of excellence in the electric vehicle industry. One of these incentives is a grant of 50%, up to a total of Rs. 10 crores per project and a maximum of five such projects.

In September, sales of electric two-wheelers reached a record high thanks to new product introductions, expanded production capacity, longer vehicle range, and holiday demand.

Up to 15% of the nationwide scooters sold in retail last month were electric. Electric cars make up 5% of the two-wheeler market if the other sectors are considered.

Amitabh Kant, a former CEO of NITI Aayog, predicts that electric vehicles will dominate the two-wheeler market in the following four years. According to him, the government is expanding tax breaks and subsidies to hasten this environmental transformation. 51,586 electric two-wheelers were registered in September, according to data from the government’s Vahan portal, making up 5.05% of the two-wheelers sold during the month.

Since May, retail sales of electric two-wheelers have steadily increased monthly.

According to Vahan data, total registrations through the first nine months of 2022 have reached 388,000 units, which is already 2.7 times more than the total for all of 2021. Higher gas prices and more EV availability from established two-wheeler manufacturers encourage consumer adoption.

In states with higher per-capita GDP, electric two-wheeler adoption has been greater. 69% of high-speed electric two-wheeler sales last month were in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi.

State-level subsidies, which average around 5,000 per Kwh, play a significant role in promoting the adoption of electric vehicles. This is most likely the cause of Delhi’s 8% share in sales of electric two-wheelers.

According to Manish Raj Singhania, president of the Federation of Automotive Dealers Association of India, the EV market has generated a lot of excitement across industries, bringing in a completely new group of consumers.

“The segment is growing at a steady pace, and we expect it to gain a larger industry share rapidly over time, especially in the three- and two-wheeler categories,” he said.

The Indian Army will buy electric vehicles (EVs) for a few units and formations. This will be under the government’s objective to cut carbon emissions from the defense sector.

Within a given time frame, the strategy intends to replace about 25% of light vehicles, 38% of buses, and 48% of motorbikes with Electric vehicles, including electric scooters, electric bikes, and electric buses.

According to the officials, the roadmap for induction was determined by several variables, including the Indian Army’s capacity to hire, remote employment areas, and operational commitments.

According to a representative, the Indian Army has developed a plan to introduce electric vehicles as often as possible. Because of operational obligations to lower carbon emissions from fossil fuels, this was the case.

According to him, several elements, such as remote job locations and operational obligations, helped create a time-bound project plan.

Support infrastructure, including charging stations, will be set up to support a successful EV ecosystem within Army units.

These EV charging stations will have two to three slow chargers and at least one fast charger. The official said that electrical circuit cables and transformers would be erected and that they would be able to provide an acceptable load-bearing capacity based on the projected number of EVs per station.

Additionally, the Army intends to install solar-powered charging stations. These plans are likewise being developed in stages.

The Army also uses capital to acquire EVs. Plans call for acquiring electric buses for a few chosen peace institutions to address the current shortfall. A first tender will be released, he said, for 60 buses and 24 EV fast chargers.

According to another official, “given the speed at which the government is moving toward greener projects and the efforts being made to lessen our reliance on fossil fuels, it is vital for us to adapt to the changing reality.”

In April, Rajnath Singh, the Indian Army’s minister of defense, attended an electric vehicle demonstration. EV producers, including Perfect Metal Industries, Tata Motors, and Revolt Motors, showcased their vehicles and provided updates on technological developments.

India is considering mining lithium and other restricted minerals for battery manufacturing. Other minerals can provide a better solution than lithium in EV and ESS batteries.

To become more self-sufficient in green technologies, India is working to change the law to permit private miners to extract lithium, a necessary component for electric vehicles and energy storage batteries. Prime

According to those familiar with the plans, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to amend current laws during the current session of parliament. There will be the removal of eight minerals from a restricted list that currently forbids private companies from producing them, including lithium, beryllium, and zirconium.

The people, who asked not to be identified because the situation is still private, claimed that the changes would enable the government to auction off licenses to exploit lithium reserves. According to the people, they are also intended to lessen India’s reliance on imports for a few essential minerals and to improve the nation’s ability to compete in the lucrative battery supply chain.

Requests for comment from a spokesperson for the ministry of mines were not immediately fulfilled.

As it strives to become carbon neutral by 2070 and seize opportunities from the global transition to cleaner energy, India wants to add local manufacturing of a wide range of zero-emissions technologies.

The country has committed to constructing 500 gigawatts of clean energy capacity by 2030. It is essential to deploy massive amounts of battery storage to make renewable energy available around the clock.

According to the mines ministry, government organizations have been investigating lithium and have found a small resource at a location in southern Karnataka state. India would still need to find and develop additional deposits if it wanted to produce lithium on any significant scale and lessen its reliance on imports.

China is currently the largest refiner in the world, while Australia and Chile now produce the rawest materials.

According to data from the trade ministry, India’s imports of lithium-ion batteries increased 54% from a year earlier to $1.83 billion in the year ended in March. Despite India’s efforts to stop imports from its northern neighbor, China and Hong Kong accounted for nearly 87% of the purchases. Along with initiatives to increase domestic production, the nation is also looking abroad for lithium and cobalt assets.

A joint venture has been established to acquire mines abroad with National Aluminium Co., Hindustan Copper Ltd., and Mineral Exploration Corp.