Recently, the 2018 India Motor Show was held in Noida, the capital of the country near New Delhi. The major automobile manufacturers in India have almost all of them exhibited with electric vehicles. In particular, local Indian auto companies Mahindra and Tata Motors have launched electric buses. A number of electric models have been built. Previously, the Modi government of India had proposed an ambitious goal and hoped that by 2030 the country would fully implement electric vehicle electrification. At that time, the cars sold on the market must rely on electric power. Therefore, all major Car prices have begun to accelerate the electric layout in the Indian market.
In response to the Indian government’s goal of fully electrified in 2030, many people think that 'steps are too big' and 'dreams are crazy'. A few days ago, an Indian automobile market analysis organization also pointed out that it is indeed difficult for India to achieve this goal. Considerable: First, although the automobile market in India is growing at a faster rate, the vehicle ownership is still relatively low. Secondly, India has a population of more than 1.3 billion. At present, 300 million people still do not have access to electricity. The electricity of the majority of the people is still not fully used. Satisfied, the country’s electric vehicle infrastructure is lagging behind; in the end, the Indian electric vehicle industry is highly dependent on imports, and the supply chain is subject to human beings. From the above points of view, India’s move towards the electrification era is indeed a long way to go.
The electric car market is just starting
From the current point of view, India is one of the fastest growing automotive markets in the world. According to data from the Indian Association of Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), India’s car sales in 2017 was 4.019 million units, which was an increase from 3.669 million units in 2016. 9.53%, surpassing Germany, the United Kingdom and other countries, ranking fourth, second only to China, the United States and Japan. It is estimated that India will reach 10 million vehicles in 2030.
Moody’s, an international rating agency, previously stated that under the huge population base of 1.3 billion, India’s 1,000-person vehicle fleet has less than 30 vehicles. There is still much room for development. In 2018, India’s auto sales are expected to increase by 7%. Last July The Indian government began to levy a unified goods and services tax to replace the previous indirect taxes, which not only ended the federal government tax and the coexistence of state taxation, but also prompted some automakers to lower their prices. Car sales growth.
However, specific to the electric vehicle market, things are not so optimistic. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) data, the market share of electric vehicles in India in 2016 was only 0.02%, far lower than other countries. The electric vehicle market in India It is only just getting started. Its annual sales volume is only 25,000 vehicles. The infrastructure ecosystem can be said to be very underdeveloped. There are very few electric vehicle charging stations and they are very far away. Most vehicles can travel up to 100 to 130 kilometers after they are fully charged.
Car prices began to speed up the layout
In the exhibition hall of the Mahindra Auto Show in India, 90% of the space is used to display electric vehicles, including UDO two-seat electric concept car, urban electric mobility concept car ATOM, lithium battery-powered tricycle Treo, small SUV e-KUV100, e2o Plus The e2o NXT, the first full-electric mini car, is the first all-electric bus e-Cosmo. 'India is eager to play a leading role in addressing climate change, and it is now time to start a sustainable mobility solution.' Mahinda Group Director Chief Anand Mahenda said.
In February this year, Ma Hengda announced that it will invest 9.0 billion Indian rupees (about 877 million yuan) to upgrade its factories in India's Maharashtra and Karnataka states to produce electric and electric vehicle parts. , And for related technologies and product development. In addition, Ma Hengda also announced the development of lithium-ion battery technology with the cooperation of LOK Chemical, the two sides will jointly develop a power battery product specifically for the Indian market. Another local car manufacturer Tata The car showcased the EVision concept car, a purely electric concept car based on Tata's latest Omega platform.
Honda presented a sports EV concept car at the Auto Show in India. It is reported that the company plans to produce electric vehicles in India. Honda also plans to establish a lithium battery plant in India. This emerging market will become an important part of Honda's electric strategy. Honda had previously issued an announcement stating that it is hoped that by 2030, the proportion of electric vehicles in sales of Honda vehicles will reach 65%, of which pure electric vehicles will account for 15% of sales, and the rest will be mixed and plug-in hybrids. Mobile and fuel cell vehicles.
Maruti Suzuki, which occupies nearly half of the market in India, also brought an electric concept car to this auto show. Last year, Suzuki and Toshiba, Denso announced that they will set up a joint venture in India to manufacture lithium batteries for vehicles. It is expected that the plant will be put into use before 2020. 'The joint venture consisting of three companies will ensure the stability of the supply of lithium battery packs in the process of promoting sustainable vehicle development in India and respond to the Indian government's 'Made in India' initiative. In the joint statement, Hyundai Motors also plans to launch electric vehicles in India next year.
Lagging infrastructure construction
'Electric vehicles have become the focus of the development of the Indian automotive industry. The Indian government is willing to move towards the goal of electric vehicles.' Sujiatuo Sen, deputy chairman of the Indian Automobile Manufacturers Association said. But the backward infrastructure construction is hindering the Indian electric Automotive Development. The power supply in India is unstable, there are even places where electricity is not available, and the number of charging stations is also very scarce, all of which slow down the progress of India's electric cars.
Analysts from the Indian automotive industry pointed out: 'Only when consumers are truly aware of the benefits of electric vehicles and their charging facilities are in place, consumers are willing to pay for electric cars.' Mahindra Babo, CEO of Mahindra Group's electric vehicle company, acknowledged that India The concept of consumers has not yet turned to electric cars. 'Private consumers only buy when they feel it's worthwhile. The cost of electric vehicles is low, but the initial purchase cost is a bit high.' The government's 2030 target can be achieved, Babu With cautious attitude, he predicted that even if the goal of full-scale electrification cannot be achieved, India’s electric vehicle market share will reach 18% by 2030. 'Whether we can achieve this goal, we are very happy that the government has such considerations. . ' He said.
In addition, it is also a problem that parts are highly dependent on imports. PricewaterhouseCoopers pointed out that nearly 80% of India's locally produced electric vehicles rely on imported core components, including batteries and battery management systems. In February of this year, India’s most influential government think tank The delegation NITI Aayog pointed out that due to potential hidden dangers in the network security of imported components, India should independently manufacture most of the components needed for electric vehicles.
Salishwat, a member of the NITI Aayog think-tank, said that in order to ensure the safety of electric vehicles and power grids, all software and at least 55% of electric vehicle components need to be manufactured in India. Saraswat said that China can manufacture chips from the chip to the converter. All electric vehicle components, and Indian car manufacturers rely mainly on imported electronic equipment. He said that without any output, the local electric car supply chain is in its infancy.