Electric Vehicles This Week: IESA Demands Clear Policy, Ather Energy To Start ICE Exchange Programme & More

India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), India’s premier entity which focuses on the growth of advanced energy storage and electric mobility technologies, submitted its recommendations on the proposed Draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020. The recommendations submitted to the Ministry of Power (MoP) was given after holding talks with over 100 energy storage players who are part of IESA.

The IESA’s recommendations have addressed challenges faced by the sector and has provided measures to improve regulatory discipline, private sector participation, next-gen reforms, the financial health of discoms and given thrust on the renewable energy sector among others.

IESA’s executive director Debi Prasad Dash said that the Bill could be the key enabler for renewable energy integration and grid stability. Also, it could be helpful to start ancillary services and frequency regulation through energy storage as a flexible asset, he added.

Dash said that this could enable electric vehicles charging infrastructure, V2G concepts and microgrids integration with expanded grid connectivity in the long run. “We hope the ministry will consider our recommendations to make the Indian electricity grid more resilient and reliable,” he said.

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Ather Energy Likely To Exchange ICE Two-Wheeler For Electric Scooter 

After subscription plans, leasing schemes and more recently, rental options in partnership with Bounce, the electric two-wheeler manufacturer is finding innovative ways to promote electric vehicle adoption in the country. The company is now looking at offering an exchange programme for internal combustion engine (ICE) two-wheelers.

According to an Autocar report, the company said that it is still a work in progress and will be revealing the details in a week or two. However, the company said that it will be collaborating with an external firm to handle the exchange programme.

MG Motor, Tata Power To Set Up Superfast Chargers For EVs In India 

As a measure to boost electric vehicle charging infrastructure in India, MG, the British brand, owned by Chinese company SAIC Motor recently announced its partnership with Tata Power, a subsidiary of Tata Group, to set up super fast chargers for electric vehicles (EV). With this, the duo will be installing superfast chargers for electric vehicles at select MG dealerships to offer end-to-end charging solutions to its customers across India.

MG Motor said that these chargers will have a capacity of 50 KW, accessible by both MG ZS EV customers and other electric vehicle owners with CCS/CHAdeMO charging standards. Tata Power’s CEO Praveer Sinha said that they will be working on the second life of the battery usage in the future. Currently, MG motor has ten chargers across five cities, including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

UK’s Faradion, Infaprime Logistics Technologies To Develop Sodium-Ion Batteries For Commercial EVs In India  

Sheffield-based non-aqueous sodium-ion cell technology company Faradion recently announced its partnership with Gurugram-based Electric-powered, data-driven construction logistics firm InfraPrime Logistics Technologies (IPLTech), for using its high energy sodium-ion batteries in commercial vehicles in the Indian market.

Faradion said that its sodium-ion technology provides similar performance to conventional chemistries while replacing expensive materials such as cobalt and lithium (Li) with sodium, thereby offering a cost-effective alternative to Li-ion batteries. Further, the company claimed that unlike Li-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries have exceptional thermal stability and safety and can be transported safely and maintained at zero volts.

Faradion CEO James Quinn said that India was the next logical region for them due to the market conditions. He added that the partnership with IPLTech will enable manufacturing of commercial electric vehicles, locally.

eBikeGo Introduces Cost-Effective Electric Bicycles For Ecommerce 

In a bid to ease manpower crunch and last-mile delivery services for ecommerce players, Amritsar-based electric bike rental company eBikeGo announced that it has introduced ‘eBikeGo Environ,’ electric bicycles where it will be offering a lowest price subscription model for delivery executives to rent the electric vehicle on the go.

The subscription is priced at INR 80 per day as part of a noble initiative to help those who cannot afford two-wheelers in these tough times. Besides daily subscription, delivery executives can rent electric bicycles on a monthly basis. On a full charge, the electric bicycle can run for 60-70 km with a loading capacity of 200 kg. Currently, eBikeGo’s rental services have been availed by Zomato, BigBasket, Delhivery, Rebel Foods, Swiggy, Goodbox and others.

Dive Into EV Ecosystem With Inc42’s Reading List

The Outlook For EV Space In India Post Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has made us realise to take a moment and look at what this means for electric vehicles in post-pandemic India. Needless to say, the virus has ushered an uptake of renewable and eco-friendly mobility and has brought about a drastic reshuffle of fiscal reprieve and augment production. Also, it has given a push for adoption, localisation, promising future for electric vehicles in India.

EV Headlines From Around The World

Tesla Hits $1,000 Per Share, Becomes World’s Most Valuable Automaker 

Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company Tesla’s stock jumped above $1K per share, on Wednesday, after the company’s announcement to start volume production of its semi-commercial truck surfaced the internet. In an email accessed by Reuters, the memo did not specify a time frame for starting the production of the semi-commercial truck.

Conforming the report, Musk Tweeted, ‘Yes.’ which was more than enough to set the Wall Street ablaze, where Tesla witnessed an increase of 6%, surpassing $1,000 per share, thereby making it a world’s most valuable automaker.

Ford, Volkswagon To Launch Electric Vehicles 

US automaker Ford Motor announced that it will be collaborating with German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen to expand into newer avenues, including electric vehicles. Through this joint venture, both the companies are expected to drive billions in cost efficiencies, where the duo will be working on releasing new vehicles, which includes pickup truck, small city van and 1-ton cargo van; electric vehicles, particularly Ford’s MEB-based cars in Europe; and autonomous driving vehicles and more. The production of the vehicles is expected to begin early next year.