India’s first Electric Vehicles Expo to be held in Delhi this month

While the auto industry is pretty excited over the 2016 Auto Expo in February, a little lesser known auto exhibition will take place on December 24-27 in New Delhi. This automotive fair is dedicated to electric vehicles and related technology.  Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, will inaugurate the EV-Expo 2015.

For the first time in India, we now have the EV-Expo 2015. It will showcase all forms of technologies available in the global electric transportation industry, including budding ideas, drawing board sketches of low-speed battery electric vehicles to fuel cell electric buses. Co-located with the electric vehicle components and batteries, this event will benefit from the significant OEM delegations already in attendance, seeking the latest power and charging solutions for hybrid and electric vehicles.

This exhibition is for those interested in exploring and understanding the technical, policy and market challenges to the paradigm shift toward the use of electric transportation technologies. The show is a manufacturing and engineering event, and will be attended by leading automotive and off-highway vehicle engineers, business leaders, technical experts, consultants and R&D professionals. Organisers are expecting participation from over 100 E-vehicle companies from across the globe. The Expo will also witness over 500 business delegations from China, Germany, Japan, Sweden and other countries.

The passing of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill 2015 is also one of the important reasons this Expo is being held. Now, the government is trying its best to promote e-rickshaws and e-carts as they come under the ambit of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. Rajiv Arora, founder member of the Electric Rickshaw Manufacturer's Association and Organiser EV-Expo, has been quoted as saying, "The Expo is in line with Government’s objective to convert 10 per cent of 2/3/4 wheeler vehicles plying on the Indian roads into Hybrid/ E-Vehicles which makes E-Rickshaws and E-Carts hold special significance in creating a pollution-free environment.”

EVs and their production have off and on been in focus but have remained in the background due to lack of infrastructural facilities and other necessary technology. Currently, while the capital is grappling with dense smog and pollution issues, we may find a solution or, at least, a beginning of a change through this exhibition.  Delhi is now juggling a ban on diesel vehicles with an engine capacity over 2-litres and also will have to participate in using cars with the odd-even numbers.