Researchers at the atomic minerals directorate found 14,100 tonnes of lithium reserves in a small patch of land in the Southern Karnataka district. With this, stakeholders in the Indian electric vehicles (EV) market saw a solution to the battery problems.
But the real question is if the reserve will be enough to meet the demands Indian EV market? The answer is no. EV expert and a retired professor at the Indian Institute of Science N Munichandraiah said, “If we compare the Indian find to other countries, it is not large.”
Munichandraiah elaborated that Chile has around 8.6 Mn tonnes, Australia has 2.8 Mn tonnes, Argentina has 1.7 Mn tonnes and even Portugal has around 60K tonnes of lithium deposits.
Chart of the week: Lithium Production Worldwide
EV News From India
India To Become An Electricity-Driven Economy, Says Power Minister
Indian power minister Raj Kumar Singh said that the country will eventually become an electricity-based economy, powered by renewable energy. Singh emphasised that this electrification will not be limited to electric mobility but would also include other initiatives. “After mobility, the next target would be promoting cooking by electricity,” added said.
BSES Yamuna To Boost EV Charging Infrastructure
EV Motors India (EVM) signed an agreement with BSES Yamuna Power (BYPL) to install and operate EV charging stations at select locations, which come under the jurisdiction of BYPL.
Uber India Looks to Expand EV Fleet
Cab hailing service Uber India has decided to expand its fleet of 350 EVs to 1,500 by the end of the year 2020. The company is now looking to form strategic partnerships with domestic startups and companies.
Yulu to Source EVs From Bajaj Auto
Yulu cofounder and CEO Amit Gupta announced that Bajaj Auto will use its expertise to offer a more affordable alternative to Yulu against Chinese electric two-wheelers. With this, Yulu will be able to cut down its spending as it imports its electric scooters from China and assembles it in India.
Hyundai Plans To Localise EV Productions
South Korean automobile giant Hyundai is in talks with several companies to develop an EV manufacturing ecosystem in the country. With this, the company wants to ensure that EVs become mainstream and accessible in India.
Dive Into EV Ecosystem With Inc42’s Reading List
Ground Reality: The Math Behind India’s Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Range anxiety? Today, this is not the only concern for electric vehicle owners in India. Electric vehicle charging players are tackling a much bigger problem — charge anxiety.
While range anxiety deals with the trepidation for the number of kilometres an electric vehicle will run, charge anxiety, on the other hand, is about whether or not the electric vehicle will find a charging station in the first place.
The Battle Between Commercial And Private EVs In India: Who Will Drive The Market?
India’s entry into the electric market was with the introduction of Reva in the early 2000s. From then to now, almost every top auto manufacturer has produced an electric vehicle for the Indian markets with varying degrees of success. In the Indian context, electric two-wheelers are setting the pace when it comes to sales. While this has impacted the private use of electric vehicles in a positive manner, when it comes to commercial electric vehicles, India is a largely untapped market.
Electric Vehicles: The Segment Of Choice To Invest In 2020
The automotive industry is on the cusp of the biggest change in more than 100 years. The shift is away from mechanically controlled and petroleum-fueled vehicles to ones that will be electronically controlled and powered by a range of energy sources. The transformation towards electric will be far more sustainable and bring about a dramatic change in the industry.
EV Headlines From Around The World
Audi Stops E-Tron Productions Due To Lack Of Batteries
German luxury car maker Audi stopped the production of e-tron in Belgium factory for four days due to lack of battery packs. The company had sold close to 26,400 e-tron cars last year.
Global EV Count Rises By 2 Mn
The number of EVs on the road has risen by 2.3 Mn from 5.6 Mn in 2018 to 7.9 Mn in 2019. China is still leading the market with 3.8 Mn EVs. It is followed by the US with 1.5 Mn electric cars.