Electric Vehicles This Week: Indian Govt Considering To Mandate EV Charging Stations In Buildings And More

As winter approaches, citizens across country’s capital are already bundled in a blanket of thick air — a poisonous combination of fog and smoke — smog. The pollution in the city is rising and has already recorded a “severe” air quality index at 401 showing the rising pollution level in the city.

The condition is further expected to become worse, in view of Diwali celebration accompanied with bursting firecrackers which release hazardous smoke in the air increasing the pollution levels.

Although people may expect some respite as the Supreme Court has banned ecommerce companies such as Amazon, Flipkart and others from selling firecrackers online. It has also set and two hour time limit from 8 PM to 10 PM, for people to burst fireworks.

On the other hand, Environment Pollution Control Authority has warned that private cars may be stopped from running in the capital roads if the pollution levels continue to rise.

Nevertheless, India’s electric vehicles segment is showing slow-and-steady rise, helping country in curbing the pollution. In the front is the two-wheeler electric vehicles. According to a TechSci recently published report, Indian electric two-wheeler market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of more than 23% from 2018 to 2023.

Here’s a curated rundown of important and related developments on the EV Ecosystem in the 47th edition of Electric Vehicles This Week [October 25-31].

Latest News From Indian Electric Vehicle Ecosystem

Hyundai India’s Rakesh Srivastava To Join JSW Energy

Former Hyundai India director for sales and marketing Rakesh Srivastava is joining Maharashtra-based power provider JSW Energy in the senior leadership team responsible for introducing its own electric vehicles.

JSW is reportedly in talks with Chinese car manufacturers to develop EVs.  It is also in talks with state governments such as Gujarat and Maharashtra for launching a manufacturing facility, according to ET report.

Hyundai Motors India To Launch Electric SUV Next Year

South Korea and Hyundai Motors India is set to enter the electric vehicle space in India from next year with its Kona Electric SUV. The Kona Electric, which has been locally assembled, will be introduced at around $33.7K (INR 25 Lakh). The company maintains that the SUV can cover upto 250 Km on a single charge. If it does, the EV may become one of the first long range electric vehicles in India priced under $40.5K (INR 30 Lakh).

Sachin Bansal Plans On Investing In Ather Energy

Flipkart co-founder and angel investor Sachin Bansal is planning to invest $50-$100 Mn in Bengaluru-based two-wheeler electric vehicles maker, Ather Energy. The startup which was launched in 2013 launched its flagship electric scooter, Ather 450 in 2018; and its another ebike, Ather 340, is set to hit Indian roads. It has also launched Ather Grid, a public and private EV charging solution.Further, Bansal is reportedly in talks to invest in several startups. It exited selling his Flipkart shares to Walmart in $1 Bn.

Indian Govt May Mandate Setting Up EV Charging Stations In Buildings

The centre is considering a proposal to mandate residential, commercial buildings and parking spaces to set up electric vehicle charging stations. The town and country planning organisation, under the ministry of housing and urban affairs, has reportedly prepared a draft defining certain guidelines needed for the charging infrastructure. The proposal includes all time charging facility to all the electric vehicles in the buildings, according to ET report.

Latest News On Electric Vehicles From Around The World

Tesla Model 3 Deliveries To Begin Next Year In Australia

In an another Tesla update, the company’s CEO Elon Musk has announced to deliver Tesla Model 3 in Australia during mid-2019. After a long wait of more than two-and-a-half years, Musk made the announcement on Twitter recently while replying to one of the Twitterati’s enquiry. This comes in as a good news for the Australian customers who had paid their first deposits in March 2016.

Dubai Gets 100 New EV Charging Stations

The Dubai electricity and water authority (Dewa) has announced a successful completion of the second phase of its ‘Green Charger’ initiative, under which it has now installed about 100 charging stations across the city. Dewa made the announcement during the 20th Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (Wetex 2018) held recently. The EV Green Charger Initiative was launched by Dewa in 2015, aimed at encouraging e-mobility in the city. There are about 200 charging stations set up across Dubai.

Australia’s SEA Electric May Set Up EV Factory In Victoria

Australian automaker SEA Electric may reportedly set up a new factory in Morwell, Victoria, and employ nearly 500 workers. The factory site is being planned to be set up in an area of 20,000 square-metre. According to report, the factory will produce pure-electric vans and buses, having production capacity of 2,400 vehicles each year. The Victorian government is also planning to invest in the setting up of the factory.

Swedish Car Maker Uniti To Set Up EV Factory In UK

Sweden EV manufacturer Uniti is reportedly setting up its digitised electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing unit in the UK. According to reports, the production plant will be initially producing Uniti One electric cars. It will also be serving as a test model for the company’s configurable factory-in-the-box model of assembly plants which will help workers develop skills through experiential learning.

[Stay tuned for the next edition of Electric Vehicles This Week.]

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