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While the government is planning to switch all the two-wheelers and three-wheelers to electric in the next few years, the manufacturers do not seem to be very thrilled. The government is said to be thinking of setting a 2023 deadline for three-wheelers and 2025 for all two-wheelers up to 150cc engine capacity.
Manufacturers have been pointing out that the industry is already reeling from being forced to accept an accelerated timeline for tighter emission norms. The new norms will be enforced next year. This has also induced more expenses, pertaining to redevelopment, for manufacturers.
Mr Venu Srinivasan, Chairman, TVS Motor Company Limited said, “Automakers everywhere are supportive of the overall goal of introducing electric vehicles (EV) and easing consumers into electric mobility. As a result, we have been doing serious development work to ensure we can offer a mass-market EV product that delivers on safety and high performance. This is necessary to co-opt consumers into making a switch, so it’s driven by consumer willingness and, therefore, adopted easily and widely. The supporting infrastructure for charging also needs to be as robust as conventional fuel options.
The auto industry globally is still a long way away from all of this, as is India. To force an unrealistic deadline for mass adoption of electric two and three-wheelers, will not just create consumer discontent, it risks derailing auto-manufacturing in India that supports 4 million jobs. We need gradual and seamless adoption of EVs to avoid such collateral damage and ensure our technology-driven disruption is positive and lasting.”
Bajaj Auto has also stated that the industry does not have any meaningful experience with electric vehicle (EV) technology to support a transition of this scale within such a short deadline. Experts have cited the lack of charging and other infrastructure that’s needed to ensure vehicles won’t run out of juice. They pointed to long queues for compressed natural gas, a clean-burning fuel used by cabs and auto-rickshaws.
Manufacturers have been pointing out that the industry is already reeling from being forced to accept an accelerated timeline for tighter emission norms. The new norms will be enforced next year. This has also induced more expenses, pertaining to redevelopment, for manufacturers.
Mr Venu Srinivasan, Chairman, TVS Motor Company Limited said, “Automakers everywhere are supportive of the overall goal of introducing electric vehicles (EV) and easing consumers into electric mobility. As a result, we have been doing serious development work to ensure we can offer a mass-market EV product that delivers on safety and high performance. This is necessary to co-opt consumers into making a switch, so it’s driven by consumer willingness and, therefore, adopted easily and widely. The supporting infrastructure for charging also needs to be as robust as conventional fuel options.
The auto industry globally is still a long way away from all of this, as is India. To force an unrealistic deadline for mass adoption of electric two and three-wheelers, will not just create consumer discontent, it risks derailing auto-manufacturing in India that supports 4 million jobs. We need gradual and seamless adoption of EVs to avoid such collateral damage and ensure our technology-driven disruption is positive and lasting.”
Bajaj Auto has also stated that the industry does not have any meaningful experience with electric vehicle (EV) technology to support a transition of this scale within such a short deadline. Experts have cited the lack of charging and other infrastructure that’s needed to ensure vehicles won’t run out of juice. They pointed to long queues for compressed natural gas, a clean-burning fuel used by cabs and auto-rickshaws.
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