From state governments to car makers to captains of industry, everyone believes in the promise of the electric vehicle
An EV charging station in Gurugram. Photo: Joyjeet Das / CSE
Electric vehicles (EV), it seems, have truly caught the imagination of Indians, like in the rest of the world. On World Electric Vehicle Day 2021, a number of prominent voices declared through their messages on social media that EVs were the key to a greener world and thus, the future of humanity.
Aaditya Thackeray, the scion of the ruling party in Maharashtra said his state was keen to push electrict mobility on a large scale so that Maharashtra could reduce its emissions from the transport sector to zero.
The Govt of Maharashtra is keen to push electric mobility on a large scale, seeing it as an opportunity to help our urban agglomerates and districts Race to Zero in carbon emissions from the transport sector.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) September 9, 2021
A bureaucrat in Maharashtra’s neighbour Gujarat announced the start of an e-vehicle service in Kevadia colony, the location of the Statue of Unity.
Kevadia will emerge as a beacon of change by embracing environment friendly transport.Local women are being trained to operate e-rickshaw to make Kevadia India's 1st 'e-vehicles only area' as envisioned by Hon @PMOIndia.10women were allotted vehicles for pilot project.#WorldEVDay pic.twitter.com/QgvlTuAaVT
— Dr Rajiv Kumar Gupta (@drrajivguptaias) September 9, 2021
Meanwhile, Ford India announced that it was restructuring its India operations. It will cease vehicle-manufucturing at its Chennai and Sanand plants.
Ford Restructures India Operations: To cease vehicle manufacturing in Chennai & Sanand; Progressively wind-down manufacturing of vehicles for export at Sanand plant by Q4 2021 & Chennai engine/vehicle assembly plants by Q2, 2022; To continue engine manufacturing for export. pic.twitter.com/E1PXmW7Rgq
— Ford India (@FordIndia) September 9, 2021
However, Ford India promised its customers that it would increase investment in electric vehicles.
Ford Restructures India Operations: To serve customers with iconic global vehicles & electrified SUVs i.e. Mustang coupe & Mustang Mach-E.
— Ford India (@FordIndia) September 9, 2021
Customers to benefit from Ford’s global plan to invest >US$30 billion towards delivering all-new hybrid & fully electric vehicles. pic.twitter.com/gQIfu4ApIV
Meanwhile, Mercedes Benz India announced it would make its latest electrict car model available at all its dealerships in India.
Enjoy electric from any dealership. This #EVDay, we’re proud to announce that the Mercedes-Benz EQC is available at all of our dealerships across India. Take a test drive in the future, today. pic.twitter.com/eBIPLCPiLi
— Mercedes-Benz India (@MercedesBenzInd) September 9, 2021
Audi said it was ready to bring another electric car to India just a month after launching its first.
50 Years of breaking conventions except one: Progress. #WorldEVday #StayTuned #Audi #etronGT #FutureIsAnAttitude pic.twitter.com/JwSIrfX6A7
— Audi India (@AudiIN) September 9, 2021
Other, non-automobile industry leaders like Vedanta also supported the drive towards EVs.
Vedanta supports the nation's drive towards e-mobility. Electric vehicles are the future of clean transportation and will help reduce emissions from global supply chains. Vedanta has already initiated several programs to introduce EVs across operations. Happy #WorldEVDay! #GoEV pic.twitter.com/BEAp7PRxjy
— Sunil Duggal (@SunilDuggal_Ved) September 9, 2021
And Tata Steeel announce a first-of-its-kind endeavour.
As part of our endeavour to enable a responsible supply chain, we’ve introduced electric vehicles for steel transport at Jamshedpur. This marks the first-ever deployment of #EVs by any steel producer in India for transportation of finished steel. #GoEV #WorldEVDay pic.twitter.com/j2OO0yAegf
— Tata Steel (@TataSteelLtd) September 9, 2021
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