7 nations draw inspiration from India’s electric vehicle adoption, govt’s EV push

Delegates from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam were in India earlier this week to take part in a study tour highlighting India’s electric vehicle adoption journey

Delegates from seven South Asian nations, namely, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam were in India earlier this week to take part in a study tour highlighting India’s electric vehicle adoption journey. The study tour also encouraged international collaboration on enhancing battery life and efficiency.

India hosted the first-of-its-kind international study tour on January 30 and 31, just ahead of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Interim Budget 2024 speech, in which she made announcements to bolster and expand the EV sector. "As India moves towards its net zero emission target by 2070, the government will work towards expanding and strengthening the EV ecosystem as well as develop the charging infrastructure," the FM said in her budget speech.

The knowledge-sharing programme focused on India's progress in EV manufacturing and battery innovation was supported by NITI Aayog and organised by the Asia LEDS Partnership (ALP), with ICLEI South Asia acting as the ALP secretariat.

Sudhendu J Sinha, Adviser at NITI Aayog, said, “There is a need for impactful awareness campaigns, support for technological advancements, and sustainable business models to scale EV implementation effectively.”

As part of the tour, the delegates visited EV manufacturing facilities, including LOHUM in Greater Noida and Omega Seiki Mobility in Faridabad to understand battery technology, manufacturing processes and recycling. “Learning from developments in India offers valuable lessons that we can adapt and apply in Thailand,” said Minta Poowatanavong from the Ministry of Energy, Thailand.

"The adoption of EVs is extending beyond major urban areas, with a noticeable increase in uptake from tier-2 and tier-3 cities. In the realm of public transport, electric buses, three-wheelers and two-wheelers are particularly gaining momentum contributing substantially to reducing emissions,” said Emani Kumar, executive director, ICLEI South Asia.

Electric two-wheeler (E2W) sales in the country jumped 36.07 percent to 8,59,269 units in 2023, which is higher than 6,31,476 units in 2022, according to the government’s transportation data portal VAHAN. Notably, VAHAN only records the total number of sales registered and not the bookings. It also does not take into account low-speed E2W sales and excludes the data for Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana.

Sameer Aggarwal, CEO and Founder, Revfin Services, an EV-focused financing company, said, “India’s commitment to fortify the EV ecosystem and support manufacturing and charging infrastructure aligns with global environmental goals, positioning India as a leader in widespread sustainable mobility adoption.”

The country has a vision of expanding the share of electric vehicle (EV) sales to 30 percent in private cars, 70 percent in commercial vehicles, 40 percent in buses, and 80 percent in two-wheelers and three-wheelers by 2030.

“The government's attention on EVs and investment in charging infrastructure demonstrates its commitment to promoting their wider adoption. Collaboration among governments, car manufacturers, and charging station providers is regarded as critical for building a fully operational and sustainable electric vehicle culture. Furthermore, the government's desire to increase EV sales while revising vehicle pollution rules demonstrates its strong commitment to the EV sector,” said Brajendra Singh Tomar, Co-founder and CEO, Finayo.