While many see electric vehicles as the future due to the ever increasing pollution level in urban areas, we need to keep in mind that no country can remain 100 per cent reliant on fossil fuels due to its depleting reserves. India too is no different and is now trying hard to bridge the gap and come at par with the western world. Quite a few foreign manufacturers as well as Indian car makers have already launched hybrid as well as full electric cars in the country, however not many mainstream two wheeler manufacturers are into it yet…
We do have a few players who make fully electric scooters however they do have a limiting factor. We are yet to use indigenised technology in the product. The government is planning to change that. Mr Ambuj Sharma, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, at a press conference announced that the government is in the process of bringing out kits for electric two wheelers. This kit, which is expected to be launched in the next six months, will primarily be an electric drivetrain, which would include a battery, a motor and a controller.
At present manufacturers in India mostly use components imported from China, Taiwan and other countries. OEMs will be benefitting on the cost front as these kits will reduce the production cost by an estimated 10 per cent. Moreover, as these kits have been designed by keeping in mind the Indian conditions, two wheelers made of these can also be expected to be more efficient than the present products on sale. These kits can be updated with time and the government aims to bring out at least 3 kits by 2020.
Meanwhile the government is also trying to provide fast charging for electric two- wheelers, a technology which has been adopted by car makers but the two wheeler industry is yet to incorporate it mainly because of its unavailability.