SIAM to elicit Government's stand on electric vehicles in India

The SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers), an automobile industry body has raised the issue of the viability of the electric transport in India in front of the 18-member, inter-ministerial group (IMG) to understand the Indian government's take on improving the infrastructure required for manufacturing the electric and hybrid cars. There is going to be a meeting on this issue between the key officials of SIAM and IMG on September 7th of this year.

SIAM had expressed their concern on the lack of the infrastructure to make the electric mobility a reality in India. Indian Finance Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee had earlier proposed to set up a national Mission for hybrid and electric cars in India during the annual budget speech. This was a step taken by the government towards improving the nation by creating a pollution-free environment and encouraging more economic mode of transport with rising fuel prices.

The major factors that are going to be discussed in the meeting to be held on September 7th between the SIAM and IMG officials are basically up to what extent the potential customer of the electric car might be able to afford to buy an electric car, among the other issues like availability of the right technology for manufacturing these electric car models and the charging stations in the non-urban areas, as stated by Mr Vishnu Mathur, DG of SIAM.

A U.S. based firm called Booz Allen Hamilton is currently strategizing to enhance the electric mobility in India. The electric vehicles are relatively new to India and constitute an infinitesimal proportion in Indian market. Mahindra Reva is the only electric vehicle with an in-house manufacturing plant costing about Rs 3, 00,000 for an two-door mini car. Toyota also offers its Toyota Pirus Hybrid car which is imported as a completely built unit (CBU) from Japan. General Motors also has plans to showcase its electric cars, apart from its Chevrolet Beat electric car revealed in Delhi last month.

As a part of boosting the production of electric vehicles in India, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had earlier offered Rs 6,000 for production of each two-wheeler, and Rs 100, 000 for a car.