G. Kalyan Kumar

India's leading eco-friendly electric vehicle technology exhibition, '19th EV EXPO 2023' in New Delhi received an enthusiastic response.

The three-day event from December 22–24 was held at Pragati Maidan and showcased the latest, technologically advanced, and environmentally friendly 2-, 3-, and 4-wheel electric vehicles, parts and accessories, charging solutions, and technologies.

The event became a point of convergence for EV enthusiasts looking to promote sustainable transportation and a transportation ecosystem that is pollution-free and cost-effective.

The EV Expo attracted more than 250 domestic and international companies who showcased their products and services.

Notable EV players who were partners in the show included Altius Auto Solutions, Nanya Airconn, Khalsa EV, CY TNR, Eastman Battery, NMR, Dabang EV, Steel Solutions India, Lming Motors, Charge O, Soni, and the World Trade and Technology Council among many others.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Hails EV Growth

The expo, inaugurated by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, hailed the event’s critical contribution in effectively showcasing the surge of India’s EV ecosystem since 2015 in different cities including Delhi.

India's Transport Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari

Over the years, EV Expo has emerged as a leading platform for young entrepreneurs and start-ups to showcase their innovations and help India become self-reliant in the electric vehicle space.

They include many start-up companies and manufacturers who are making products such as electric bikes, scooters, load-carrying vehicles, electric rickshaws, and many other types of electric vehicles.

New product launches

The Expo witnessed many new product launches. They included the following. EVEY Electric Bike launched a new e-scooter with LED projector lights and dual disk brakes. It has a 72-watt lead battery, and the EV bike claims a mileage of 70 km per charge.

New e-scooters launched

Altius EV Tech unveiled the country’s pioneering mid-drive, chain-driven electric motorcycle at the Expo. This is a milestone in the two-wheeler industry in terms of higher performance standards and sustainability in the domestic market.

Nanya Airconn introduced a new energy-efficient technology offering a huge boost in vehicle mileage of a minimum of 20 percent. This technology extends the lifespan of vehicles and offers remarkable cost savings.

Terra Motors unveiled an impressive range of cutting-edge products, including a game-changing 3.3 kW charger for electric vehicle fleets. They also introduced the L5 Loader 3-wheeler with rich technical features, showing exceptional performance in the market.

ChargeQ unveiled its innovation in vehicle charging solutions. The newly launched LEVDC light electric vehicle DCT charger targets two- and three-wheelers, providing efficient charging.

ChargeQ also unveiled its portable power bank and mobile charging stations for electric vehicles. These charging solutions range from 10 KWH to 150 KWH, and address the diverse needs of EV owners.

Big Opportunity for OEMs

Union minister Gadkari noted that India has the potential to become the world's leading electric vehicle manufacturer, and is on the way to becoming self-reliant in the generation and mass utilization of clean energy.

The demand for small battery-powered electric vehicles on the market is rising rapidly. This provides an opportunity for India to become an exporter of these electric vehicle variants.

The minister pointed out that the Vahan database shows that 3.5 million EVs have already been registered in India. The annual sales of India's electric vehicle market are expected to increase to 10 million by 2030, and it may also create 50 million jobs.

Shri Gadkari noted that the approximate investment required for the electric vehicle industry will be at least $25 billion by 2030.

The exponentially growing electric vehicle market presents big opportunities for OEMs, component manufacturers, battery manufacturers, and charger sub-operators.

Gadkari added that the government’s upcoming policy changes allowing existing polluting vehicles to be converted into hybrid or fully electric vehicles will add more traction to the electric vehicle market.

In the long term, all public transport and logistics will be converted to electric vehicles. The last Union budget reduced tariffs on lithium batteries. The discovery of huge lithium ore reserves in Jammu and Kashmir has also boosted optimism for electric vehicle growth in India.

India is on the cusp of introducing major policy shifts in the EV space. The government is reportedly expecting a large number of investors from the UK, Germany, and South Korea.

Global EV events up

Worldwide, EV shows are attracting greater attention from stakeholders. They include global trade shows like the annual Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo North America. It brings together business leaders, companies, suppliers, thought leaders, and media to discover groundbreaking products and create powerful solutions for the future.

In 2023, it was hosted in Novi, Michigan, on September 12–14. Top auto sector companies such as Tesla, BMW, Toyota, Honda, Audi, Mercedes, and Nissan, and battery industry majors such as Duracell, Interstate, and East Penn, among others.

In the largest battery and electric hybrid and vehicle technology event, visitors and participants hit the floor to source the latest technologies in commercial and industrial transportation, stationary energy storage, portable electronics, and more. The business visitors include buyers, project managers, and technocrats.

Trade body of EV companies in India

The Society of Electric Vehicle Manufacturers and Trade Associations (SMEV) is the major trade body for the industry. Its president, Rajendra Kumar Misra, is the co-founder of Yulu Bikes. R.K. Misra is on record saying that SMEV has been playing a key role in steering the transition towards sustainable mobility in India.

It is working as a bridge between industry members and policymakers, reinforcing support to create more original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the sector.

SMEV president RK Misra

For greater traction of EVs, SMEV has urged the central government to introduce a uniform motor vehicle tax exemption policy across the country. This would work as a catalyst in hastening the adoption of electric vehicles and encourage a radical shift towards electric mobility in India.

The unequal rates in different states had been a barrier to the electric mobility revolution, it noted.