'Good eco-system needed to promote green mobility'

'We need a good ecosystem to promote green mobility and it has to be a joint effort by the OEMs'

A good ecosystem is needed to promote green mobility and it has to be a joint effort by the original equipment manufactures in addition to suitable policies by Government of India and necessary infrastructure, said V Sumantran, executive Vice-Chairman, Hinduja Automotive.

Speaking to reporters to announce a one-day conference organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Automotive Research & Development (R&D) Trends, to be held on March 8, Sumantran, who is also the conference chairman said, India is well-poised to become a destination for developing cost-effective green mobility solutions including hybrid and electric vehicles. The main strength of the country is frugal engineering/frugal concept and software capabilities.

“We need a good ecosystem to promote green mobility and it has to be a joint effort by the original equipment manufactures (OEMs), with suitable policies by the Government of India and necessary infrastructure,” he added.

The recent Budget extends the period of concession for specified parts of electric and hybrid vehicles till March 31, 2015. More sustained, consistent policies are required, said Sumantran. He added, globally, there have been a few failures or there’s been a lack of demand due to the high cost attached to them, in green-mobility.

India is a great market for developing any kind of mobility solutions, particularly on developing solutions for hybrid/electric vehicles keeping in mind the mass market segment in a cost-effective manner. “What we need is the joint collaboration / efforts among industry players and government or through public-private partnership mode to address the societal demand for green mobility,” he said.

He recommended a few initiatives, including integrating all the different elements of transportation, providing Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (CREDAI) with the necessary support to create basic infrastructure across buildingsommercial places to charge batteries.

Often, it was understood if it is green mobility, it’s electric vehicles. But, this is not the only solution to a sustainable future, said Sumantran.

Apart from vehicle makers, the ancillary sector must also play an important role in making lighter parts which reduce emissions.

The conference would discuss all the above said matters.

Speakers are from both domestic and international, and as part of the conference a report on ‘Cost Effective — Green Mobility’ will be released, which was done by CII — AT Kearney.