There is no specific deadline for automakers to switch to electric vehicles, since the shift to electric mobility will "happen in a natural progression”, road transport minister Nitin Gadkari said on August 22, reports Mint. The minister further added that the government will continue promoting cleaner fuels, according to the report. Meanwhile, the report also said that no deadline would be put on banning internal combustion engine vehicles without prior consultations with the industry. Two-wheeler manufacturers have hit out aginst Niti Aayog's proposals Gadkari’s statements come at a time when mainstream two-wheeler manufacturers like Hero, Bajaj and TVS have hit out at Niti Aayog’s proposal of electrifying all scooters and motorbikes with an engine capacity of more than 150cc by 2025. TVS had argued that the transition from conventional to electric two-wheelers was “not like Aadhaar, not software and print cards” since it required migration to a completely new supply chain. Meanwhile, Hero MotoCorp said that Niti Aayog’s approach to electrification of two wheelers was “deeply concerning” and could potentially “jeopardise the industry”. Bajaj Auto said that such a transition was “completely uncalled for”. Niti Aayog has also proposed that only electric vehicles (EV) be sold in India after 2030 The incentives for EVs under FAME II and the Union Budget 2019-20 While much has been said about EV adoption in India, as of now, the only government scheme that directly impacts EVs is FAME (Faster Adoption of Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles), which is currently in its second…
