This refers to the editorial, “The electric path” ( February 12). last year, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had categorically stated that by 2030, he wanted all vehicles in the country to run on electric. So, when our Government's clear focus is on clean energy, it is only logical for all automobile manufacturers to shift their focus there and plan accordingly. Though it is non-negotiable that enough time should be given to auto manufacturers so that they gradually build their capacity to cater to future needs.
Most critical issue in this push for cleaner energy vehicles is charging infrastructure. Since power distribution system in our country is governed by The Electricity Act, there is no clarity yet whether a consumer charging a vehicle for individual consumption would be asked to get a licence or not; or charging stations will be authorised to sell power without a licence. We know that in his constituency, Nagpur, Gadkari has created a good infrastructure for electrical vehicles to run and even in Bengaluru, Mahindra Reva has set up charging stations at various points. So, there is a clear beginning on this path but a huge task lies ahead of us. Though whenever we talk about electric vehicles, we generally focus on cars while we forget about two-wheelers, which sell almost six times more than cars in India. There is a lot of ground work happening and it will take a lead vis-a-vis cars as it has been testing the market with some products run on electric in the last few years. In furure, prices of lithium ion batteries will drop significantly, while its overall productivity will increase. Hero Electric is planning to launch li-ion battery scooters. But before electric vehicles embark on their long journey, regulatory clarity is the least we need to have a smooth running.