Transition to e-vehicles may take longer than 2030: TERI chief

Electric vehicles could be a better alternative to fuel-based automobiles to mitigate air pollution, but the government's target to switch to e-vehicles in next 10 years is hard to achieve, TERI said, pointing out that consumers would need time to accept the change.

By 2030, the government aims to make India a 100-per cent electric-vehicle nation.

It has proposed that two-wheelers below the engine capacity of 150cc sold in the country after March 31, 2025, and three-wheelers sold after March 31, 2023, should be EVs.

But TERI chief Ajay Mathur told PTI that key factors like consumer acceptability and desirability need to be addressed before making e-vehicles a reality in India.

"This is a consumer based market so consumer acceptability and desirability are key factors. We are not yet there. We need to address the obstacles in transiting to e-vehicles through incentives against scrapping of old vehicles, reducing GST, business models," he said.

"I don't know what is the basis of this target of 2023-25. The markets have to build the consumer desirability and acceptability first. I don't see transition happening this fast."
Beside not causing urban pollution, EVs' running cost is cheaper when compared to diesel or petrol -based vehicles, he said. "You no longer have a vehicle spewing smoke on you."