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If today you are thinking of buying a car, I doubt you will consider an electric car even in your dream. You know that there are only few ugly models available in India. But major concerns are- high price, low range (80-100 km), limit in top speed and charging facility. Who wants to buy a car which cant even support a weekend trip. There is hardly any chance that things will change in next 5-10 years. There is no doubt about the capability of the Indian car manufacturers like Tata, Mahindra or Ashoka Leyland; they can compete with foreign companies or at least they can go for JVs to bring in the technology. But, the question is whether it is economically feasible for them to do so. I have doubt. The Government has some plans on paper to increase penetration of electric cars in Indian market; but, like many other things it is on paper only.
However the government has something very big to offer to the electric car industry. No, I am not talking about subsidy. No more financial burden please. But, government can provide a very big market to the manufacturers. Just consider the number of vehicles government run-public buses, cars for government employees, trucks of the municipalities and so on. After that there is the segment which government can easily control – school buses, taxies, ambulances etc. Notice that most of these vehicles run within the city and don't suffer because of the low range offered by electric cars with present technology. And the problem of charging can be solved by installing the facilities in depots in initial stage. Government just has to fix a future date, say 1st April, 2017, after which no registration would be given to traditional vehicles for above mentioned cases while old vehicles would be removed from streets gradually. It will be enough for the companies like Tata, Mahindra or Ashoka Leyland to jump in. Technology will automatically start evolving; lithium batteries (or something new) and other components will see production in India.
The benefits are manifold. We all are aware of environmental benefits; so no repeating of all it again. But, the immediate advantages will be cut in petroleum demand (crude oil will hit $200 by then) thus saving our forex reserve; improvement in export-import ratio. Another benefit is saving a lot of money as maintenance and fuel theft are major source of corruption in public transport. Having such a big market in hand Indian companies will surely put money in R&D to compete with their foreign counterparts. It will pave in better technologies. India will surely has the potential to become a leader in this industry even if there is no major break through in technology. If there is real breakthrough regarding range and speed, then Balle balle. People like you and me will have no objection to consider an electric car.
Please share your opinion.
If you find above write up boring go through the following
Why Electric Cars should be considered important in India?
Cut our dependency on imported fossil fuels; improve export-import ratio; save foreign exchange reserve"¦"¦We actually meet a fraction of fossil fuel demand in our growing economy through domestic production
Helps to control pollution
What are the road-blocks?
High cost
Low range, limitation in speed
No Charging facility
Only few ugly models are available in India
Lithium-ion batteries are not manufactured in India
Consumer apathy to new technologies
Road to follow-
Target non-private vehicles first-E.g.- Bus, taxi, cars for government employees, vehicles in municipalities (garbage trucks for example), school bus, ambulance and so on.
Give a market to Indian manufacturers by fixing a certain date after which only electric vehicles should be allowed in above mentioned cases.
Built charging facilities in depots and improve gradually.
Outcomes-
Interest among Indian manufacturers to invest in R&Dïƒ improvement in technology, production of all parts and batteries in Indiaïƒ earning of foreign currency by exporting cars
Curb in corruption regarding maintenance of government vehicles and fuel theft.
Environmental benefits
Cut in demand of fossil fuels which are mostly imported
However the government has something very big to offer to the electric car industry. No, I am not talking about subsidy. No more financial burden please. But, government can provide a very big market to the manufacturers. Just consider the number of vehicles government run-public buses, cars for government employees, trucks of the municipalities and so on. After that there is the segment which government can easily control – school buses, taxies, ambulances etc. Notice that most of these vehicles run within the city and don't suffer because of the low range offered by electric cars with present technology. And the problem of charging can be solved by installing the facilities in depots in initial stage. Government just has to fix a future date, say 1st April, 2017, after which no registration would be given to traditional vehicles for above mentioned cases while old vehicles would be removed from streets gradually. It will be enough for the companies like Tata, Mahindra or Ashoka Leyland to jump in. Technology will automatically start evolving; lithium batteries (or something new) and other components will see production in India.
The benefits are manifold. We all are aware of environmental benefits; so no repeating of all it again. But, the immediate advantages will be cut in petroleum demand (crude oil will hit $200 by then) thus saving our forex reserve; improvement in export-import ratio. Another benefit is saving a lot of money as maintenance and fuel theft are major source of corruption in public transport. Having such a big market in hand Indian companies will surely put money in R&D to compete with their foreign counterparts. It will pave in better technologies. India will surely has the potential to become a leader in this industry even if there is no major break through in technology. If there is real breakthrough regarding range and speed, then Balle balle. People like you and me will have no objection to consider an electric car.
Please share your opinion.
If you find above write up boring go through the following
Why Electric Cars should be considered important in India?
Cut our dependency on imported fossil fuels; improve export-import ratio; save foreign exchange reserve"¦"¦We actually meet a fraction of fossil fuel demand in our growing economy through domestic production
Helps to control pollution
What are the road-blocks?
High cost
Low range, limitation in speed
No Charging facility
Only few ugly models are available in India
Lithium-ion batteries are not manufactured in India
Consumer apathy to new technologies
Road to follow-
Target non-private vehicles first-E.g.- Bus, taxi, cars for government employees, vehicles in municipalities (garbage trucks for example), school bus, ambulance and so on.
Give a market to Indian manufacturers by fixing a certain date after which only electric vehicles should be allowed in above mentioned cases.
Built charging facilities in depots and improve gradually.
Outcomes-
Interest among Indian manufacturers to invest in R&Dïƒ improvement in technology, production of all parts and batteries in Indiaïƒ earning of foreign currency by exporting cars
Curb in corruption regarding maintenance of government vehicles and fuel theft.
Environmental benefits
Cut in demand of fossil fuels which are mostly imported