TODAY EXPRESS NEWS ( AJAY VERMA ) New Delhi, March 23, 2018: Hemalatha Annamalai, CEO & Founder, Ampere Electric Vehicle Pvt Ltd and South Chapter Chief, SMEV, driving the technology initiatives of SMEV and the MSME industries in EV, says that the continuation of subsidy is vital to support electric vehicles market development and manufacturing eco-system
The industry needs a separate fund for continuous innovation, research and development in the area of advanced power electronics.
Government of India had notified FAME India Scheme [Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India] for implementation with effect from 1st April 2015, extended it for two years and is now, working on the scheme for continuation as it lapses on March 31, 2018.
Hemalatha, who is also the member of the National Council for Electric Mobility, said: “The continuation of FAME India Scheme is vital for sustaining the ecosystem, to convert 30% of automobile fleet into EVs by 2030. The EV industry, which is still in the nascent stage, needs support to achieve the targeted number, which should be at least 1% of the gasoline two wheelers, as a first step to make the EV proposition affordable with volume drivers.”
She said: “The industry needs a separate fund for continuous innovation, research & development in the area of advanced power electronics, which are crucial as “Electric” Vehicle will now transform into “Electronic” vehicle in the next 3-5 yrs. It will be a paradigm shift of a Multi-folded Disruptions in Business Model, Technology and Application, transforming the entire Mobility spectrum & its constituents.” To enable this, she said, the Indian Government should bring back all the “Power Electronics professionals” back to India and step up innovation suitable and relevant for the Indian drive conditions.
“Incentives to promote indigenous manufacturing under Make in India for MSME sectors will foster job creation and help transform India into an EV Export manufacturing hub,” she added.
As there is also confusion on the custom duty on the import of auto components for EVs, the industry wants the duty to be made zero for sustained growth of the players until local manufacturing of key parts such as motor, controller and charger is rampant. Besides, the industry must get the priority lending facilities for all manufacturing companies and personal finance loans for all buyers at concessional rates, Hemalatha added.
