Is Chennai auto sector ready for electric vehicles?

CHENNAI: As India plans to electrify all new vehicles by 2030, the automobile sector in Chennai is expected to undergo dynamic changes.

According to experts, the push to electrify all new vehicles is compelling auto part manufacturers and carmakers to draw up early plans for electrification. A new auto policy by Centre is in the cards and will include a roadmap for electric vehicles and it is likely to be made public before year-end.

Research and development are progressing in the city with Ashok Leyland partnering with IIT Madras for strengthening battery engineering and related sub-parts, especially for electric vehicles.

It is learnt that IIT Madras is the first institution to set up such an initiative to develop the electric mobility ecosystem in India with industry participation. Ashok Leyland will be sponsoring the Centre of Battery Engineering (CoBE) at IIT Madras.

Similarly, engine-maker Cummins India is investing in research on electric mobility solutions for India, while Hyundai Motor has begun talks with some of its suppliers for components for electric cars.

In May, the Niti Aayog laid out a 15-year roadmap for electrifying all new vehicles in the country by limiting registration of petrol and diesel cars while giving incentives and subsidies on sales of electric cars.

As per the Niti Aayog report, India can save 64 per cent of anticipated passenger road-based mobility-related energy demand and 37 per cent of carbon emissions in 2030 by pursuing a shared, electric and connected mobility future. Niti Aayog estimates that once the sector is electrified it will result in net savings of Rs 3.9 lakh crore ($60 billion) in 2030.

“The scarcity of privately owned four-wheel vehicles and a large number of two-wheelers creates opportunities for India to deploy emerging technology and business models to make mobility services more convenient and cost-effective than the anticipated trend towards a growing number of personally-owned cars,” the Niti Aayog said.

The cabinet secretariat has shifted the electric vehicles programme to Niti Aayog from the department of heavy industries. The moving of FAME or Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles programme to Niti Aayog will help synchronise efforts of the different departments of the government to move towards an all-electric fleet by 2030.

The biggest challenge will also be the pricing of power to charge the cars. It is learnt that Central Electricity Regulatory Commission will have to work on the cost for electricity to charge the electric vehicles.

Many State-run companies, including National Thermal Power Corporation, Power Grid Corp and Indian Oil Corp, are vying to set up charging stations.

Second edition of TNIE Auto Expo

The New Indian Express along with Honda will present Chennai’s biggest two-day Auto Expo Fair at Chennai Trade Centre, from October 28. You can check out products of leading brands from the automobile industry like Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Ford, Nissan, TATA, Skoda and Mahindra at the Expo. The Expo will be inaugurated by Alisha Abdullah, India’s first women racer, along with a few other guests from the automobile, allied and banking industries.

Entry is free. You can walk in between 10.30 am and 7.30 pm. You can also watch bike stunts performed by “PRO GUYZ” group besides checking out “SUPER CARS & BIKES”.

This is the second edition of the Auto Expo from TNIE, sponsored by Honda Motors and partnered by BMW, TRANSCAR, IOCL, Jubilant Insurance and BSNL. For further details, contact: 9677088081/99529-66579, 9962901299