Rs 1,200 Crore Needed For India's Electric Car Revolution: Top Scientist

India's chief scientist has released a new roadmap for research on e-mobility, asserting that if the government invests Rs 1,200 crore in R&D, then in less than five years, India can aspire to lead in electric cars.

One big expectation in the upcoming Union Budget is enhanced incentives for electric vehicles. India is the global capital for air pollution, and e-mobility is a very promising way to reduce that, at least in big cities. India's chief scientist has released a new roadmap for research on e-mobility, asserting that if the government invests Rs 1,200 crore in R&D, then in less than five years, India can aspire to lead in electric cars.

Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, told NDTV that very soon internal combustion engines running on petrol and diesel will become extinct like dinosaurs, with electric vehicles becoming the preferred mode of transportation. Professor Sood said, "In the first half of 2024, nearly 9 lakh electric vehicles were sold in India, but the penetration has to go up to 30 per cent by 2030."

The new report titled "e-Mobility R&D Roadmap for India" was launched by Professor Sood. The R&D roadmap has been prepared after a detailed understanding of the global automotive sector and identifying future cutting-edge technological requirements. It categorises research projects into four important areas: energy storage cells, electric vehicle aggregates, materials and recycling, and charging and refuelling, providing clear pathways to attain global leadership by being Atmanirbhar in the next five years.