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Every major manufacturer has an EV in its lineup for India. All about EV revolution and an insider view on the road ahead from leading auto experts.

Are you ready to switch to e-cars?

Every major manufacturer has an EV in its lineup for India

It's not a great time to be a personal vehicle owner in India. When you drive into a fuel station, you can almost feel your wallet shrinking in terror from the astronomical prices of petrol and diesel, which have been increasing at an exponential rate over the last year. These prices are part of why many have switched to electric vehicles (EVs) or are actively considering a switch, which is ironic if you go back in history. A few years before Carl Benz patented his gasoline-powered automobile in 1886, electric vehicles had already existed in several shapes and sizes. In the United States, EVs made up over 30 per cent of all vehicles sold by the early 1900s. This number would have gone up had it not been for two factors—Henry Ford introducing the mass-produced, cheap-as-chips Ford Model T (cost less than half the price of an EV) and the discovery of crude oil in Texas, which led to low gasoline prices.

Now the wheel has turned. Fuel prices are so high that EVs are being looked at as the saviours of mass transportation, not just for their lower running costs but also because they're better for the environment, thanks to zero-emission. The former is a no-brainer—you can't contest the fact that the average Indian is big on the tagline, 'value for money'. The latter is a crucial point because India is the world's third-largest emitter of carbon. As a nation, we cannot afford to hurtle down the path of environmental degradation indefinitely. Though EVs are not a silver bullet, they are a big step in a corrective direction.

Big players like Audi  intend to have electric versions of all their existing models as well. 

Big players like Audi intend to have electric versions of all their existing models as well. 

Today, we're on the cusp of an EV revolution. 2020 saw the introduction of a slew of electric cars, including the Tata Nexon EV.

Today, we're on the cusp of an EV revolution. 2020 saw the introduction of a slew of electric cars, including the Tata Nexon EV.

India's EV journey began with the diminutive Reva—designed and manufactured in 2001 by the entrepreneur Chetan Maini. General Motors' EV1 and the Toyota Prius (a hybrid electric car) had preceded it internationally, but the Reva was the world's first low-cost EV. Sales weren't great, but it showed that India could be up there with the best of them in terms of innovation. The local EV space remained relatively quiet for almost two decades after, barring the entry of premium cars like the Toyota Prius and Toyota Camry Hybrid and a small number of players in the electric scooter segment. Globally, game-changers like the Nissan Leaf, the Chevrolet Volt and a certain E. Musk and his Tesla were proving that the future was indeed electric.

"INCREASED AWARENESS LEADING TO EARLY ADOPTION OF EVS AS A PRACTICAL AND SUSTAINABLE MODE OF USAGE HAS LED TO INCREASED EV POPULARITY."

Martin Schwenk

Today, we're on the cusp of an EV revolution. 2020 saw the introduction of a slew of electric cars, including the Tata Nexon EV, the MG ZS, the Hyundai Kona and the Mercedes-Benz EQC. "Increased awareness leading to early adoption of EVs as a practical and sustainable mode of usage has led to increased EV popularity. In addition, the policy push has been encouraging and in the right direction towards introducing e-mobility for mass transportation. We believe that the four-wheeler segment will make the gradual shift to e-mobility with enhanced public and home charging infrastructure, continued incentives for customers like reduction of GST rates and availability of world-class products at comparable pricing with that of ICEs [internal combustion engines]," says Martin Schwenk, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India.

Other such cars are the Jaguar I-Pace, the Audi e-tron and e-tron GT, and the Tata Tigor EV. The BYD E6 just hit the market, and there are several others lined up for a launch in the coming months. The drive to electric has been nothing short of aggressive. However, according to the Delhi-based Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)'s electric mobility dashboard, the share of e-cars sold in FY 2021-22 is just under four per cent of the market. But that number's undeniably only going to grow.

Every major manufacturer has an EV in its lineup, and heavyweights like Volvo and Jaguar-Land Rover have committed to doing away with internal combustion engines by 2030 and 2025, respectively. Big players like Audi and Mercedes-Benz intend to have electric versions of all their existing models. It's no longer a question of whether EVs can compete with established brands because it's these very brands that are making the switch en masse. Besides, EVs are now just as cool as fossil fuel-powered vehicles. Just look at the Pininfarina Battista. A massively desirable, ultra-rare and exotic hypercar that produces a staggering 1900 horsepower, goes from 0-100 km/h in 1.8 seconds and has a top speed of 350 km/h. PS: it's entirely battery-powered, and Mahindra owns the company.

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"We believe that the four-wheeler segment will make the gradual shift to e-mobility," says Martin Schwenk

Sachin Bhivare

Don't discount two and three-wheeler EVs either. The CEEW dashboard indicates that both categories constitute for almost 50 per cent of sales. And there's no shortage of high-profile newbies and established giants—upstarts like Ather Energy, Simple Energy and Ola Electric are battling it out with products from Hero Electric, Okinawa, Bajaj and TVS. Hero MotoCorp, the world's largest two-wheeler company, will enter the ring soon, which will be a watershed moment. According to Naveen Munjal, MD of Hero Electric, EV sales will hit the 30 million mark in the next decade. Tarun Mehta, CEO of Ather Energy, has stated that the next four years will see a 40 per cent move away from petrol scooters. It's no secret that EVs of all kinds play a significant role in combating the planet's carbon emission crisis. Plus, they have lower running costs, are lower maintenance and offer quicker acceleration because of instantaneous torque delivery. Win-win all around, then? Not just yet.Every silver lining has a cloud, and with EVs, that cloud is multi-layered. India relies heavily on coal—a dirty source—to produce electricity. Public charging stations are scarce and private charging becomes a challenge if you live in a housing society, which requires charging points and the modalities of who pays for the power consumed. Public and private sectors are set to ramp up the number of stations, but patience is the name of the game. India is also a price-conscious market, and EVs currently cost more than their regular counterparts. Still, you can't deny that an EV boom is looming. The increasing cost of vehicles with ICEs and more significant governmental subsidies on EVs guarantee a greener future. This will also help level the playing field. It's true that at the moment, you'll need an ICE to go with your EV, especially for longer distances. But with every auto giant revving up the noise, there will come a time where you'll be left with no choice but to have a conscious car in your garage. The electrification of the Indian automobile industry will continue apace, and it's your choice as to whether you want to be a trend starter or part of the herd.Every silver lining has a cloud, and with EVs, that cloud is multi-layered. India relies heavily on coal—a dirty source—to produce electricity. Public charging stations are scarce and private charging becomes a challenge if you live in a housing society, which requires charging points and the modalities of who pays for the power consumed. Public and private sectors are set to ramp up the number of stations, but patience is the name of the game. India is also a price-conscious market, and EVs currently cost more than their regular counterparts. Still, you can't deny that an EV boom is looming. The increasing cost of vehicles with ICEs and more significant governmental subsidies on EVs guarantee a greener future. This will also help level the playing field. It's true that at the moment, you'll need an ICE to go with your EV, especially for longer distances. But with every auto giant revving up the noise, there will come a time where you'll be left with no choice but to have a conscious car in your garage. The electrification of the Indian automobile industry will continue apace, and it's your choice as to whether you want to be a trend starter or part of the herd.

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"Increased awareness leading to early adoption of EVs as a practical and sustainable mode of usage has led to increased EV popularity," says Martin Schwenk

Daimler AG - Global Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars, photo by Daniel Maurer on behalf of Daimler AG

Every major manufacturer has an EV in its lineup: Jaguar I-Pace

Every major manufacturer has an EV in its lineup: Jaguar I-Pace

Every silver lining has a cloud, and with EVs, that cloud is multi-layered. India relies heavily on coal—a dirty source—to produce electricity. Public charging stations are scarce and private charging becomes a challenge if you live in a housing society, which requires charging points and the modalities of who pays for the power consumed. Public and private sectors are set to ramp up the number of stations, but patience is the name of the game. India is also a price-conscious market, and EVs currently cost more than their regular counterparts. Still, you can't deny that an EV boom is looming. The increasing cost of vehicles with ICEs and more significant governmental subsidies on EVs guarantee a greener future. This will also help level the playing field. It's true that at the moment, you'll need an ICE to go with your EV, especially for longer distances. But with every auto giant revving up the noise, there will come a time where you'll be left with no choice but to have a conscious car in your garage. The electrification of the Indian automobile industry will continue apace, and it's your choice as to whether you want to be a trend starter or part of the herd.

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