India’s all-electric vision clouds

India’s government has been advocating a vision of all-electric cars by 2030.

So road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari’s out of character announcement that there is no need for a policy on electric vehicles now has shocked some overseas media.

Has one of the most active advocates for EVs during the past year had a re-think?

Electric car costs are still very high – although are coming down, and quick charging infrastructure is lagging in India, Business Today

 says in an article about India’s “electric vehicle story on the verge of imploding”.

A policy for electric cars was awaited and promised, with Gadkari saying it was ready and only required cabinet approval.

His apparent back-track leaves industry free to decide the future course of action, something companies want.

“Tell us what is the target for reduction in emissions for cars or the desired improvements in fuel economy to curb dependence on fossil fuel and then let industry decide which technology to go for,” Toyota Kirloskar Motor India vice-chairman Shekhar Vishwanathan says.

Maruti Suzuki India chairman R C Bhargava says: “It’s not a problem if there is no electric vehicle policy. The broad message is government is willing to leave it to the industry to chart its course.”