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Union Heavy Industries Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey made a significant announcement on Wednesday, revealing Indias plans to begin local production of approximately 50 Gigawatt Hour (GWh) battery cells by early 2024. Speaking at the Green Plate EV Rally, Pandey underscored the governments unwavering commitment to bolstering the electric vehicle (EV) sector. He highlighted the substantial progress made thus far, with 9.4 lakh EVs already plying the roads of India, attributing much of this success to the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.
The current scenario in India involves the assembly of batteries with cells predominantly imported from China, Taiwan, and European nations. However, the governments proactive push for indigenous manufacturing gained momentum in 2021 with the introduction of the Rs. 18,100 crore PLI scheme, primarily targeting the production of 30 GWh of Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage. Contracts for constructing 30 GWh capacity have been awarded to key players like Ola Cell Technologies, ACC Energy Storage, and Reliance New Energy Battery Storage. Additionally, industry giants like the Tata Group, Exide, and Amara Raja have expressed their intentions to domestically produce battery cells. The government is now gearing up to auction the remaining 20 GWh of capacity.
Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh had hinted earlier this week that a new PLI scheme specifically for batteries is in the works, aimed at reducing costs and accelerating EV adoption. Pandey further emphasized, "The discovery of lithium reserves in Northern India and our commitment to becoming a net-zero nation by 2070 are driving various green technology initiatives."
Kamran Rizvi, Secretary of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, shared an optimistic outlook, predicting the sale of 12 lakh electric scooters this year. He also outlined the ambitious targets for 2030, with expectations of 60 to 70 percent of two-wheelers and 70 to 75 percent of three-wheelers being electric. The goal for cars is to double the sale of one lakh electric vehicles, signaling a substantial shift towards electrification.
Dr. Hanif Qureshi, Joint Secretary of the Ministry, called upon the industry to accelerate its transition toward sustainability in collaboration with the government. He emphasized the global leadership of Europe, the US, and China in EV sales and urged India to match up to these standards. The message was clear - its time for India to lead the charge in the electric vehicle revolution. |
