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Automobile manufacturers body SIAM is hoping to release documents on hybrid and other alternative fuel vehicles during the upcoming auto expo, an official said. “We have submitted a white paper on electric vehicles in December,” the official of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said.
“We will be coming out with two more documents — one on hybrid vehicles and the other on alternative fuel vehicles — that we hope to bring in during the Auto Expo,” SIAM’s Deputy Director General Sugato Sen told media. “These documents will be our inputs to the government,” Sen said.
Amid a buzz on the electric vehicles and cleaner fuels, the society called for a policy and clear roadmap for the automobile industry. “The Automotive Mission Plan 2016-26 has been in place. This document was prepared in 2015 and now things have changed drastically. “At this moment, the Ministry of heavy industries, which is a nodal ministry for the automobile industry, is working on a new auto policy document. The dialogue is on.
We hope this new document will bring in clarity,” Sen said. Responding to a query about the visibility of electric vehicles in the upcoming expo, SIAM Trade Fair Group Chairman Arun Malhotra said, “What was seen last time was some form of electric utilities in the vehicles. “What has been talked at the present time is either 100 percent electric vehicle or strong hybrid…it is a very evolving phase….there will be some visibility (of an electric vehicle) but it will grow as we go along.” Sen also said the visibility of hybrid vehicles was there last time. The white paper on electric vehicles said that pure electric vehicle penetration currently remains “quite low in India, 0.1 percent in passenger vehicles, 0.2 percent in two-wheelers and practically nil for commercial vehicles” due to significant affordability gap and low level of consumers’ acceptance (lack of demand), low level of electric vehicle manufacturing activities (lack of supply), lack of comparable products (especially in the two-wheeler category), non-existent public charging infrastructure among others.
Speaking on the upcoming Auto Expo-The Motor Show 2018, to be held at India Expo Mart in Greater Noida from February 9-14, Sen said more than 100 companies would be participating in the Expo. There would be some new entrants in this edition like Kia Motors, India Kawasaki, and Cleveland Cyclewerks, etc. “…About 24 vehicles are to be launched this year,” Sen added.