In India, acceptance of e-mobility is growing in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities

Though the overall level of awareness and knowledge on electric vehicles remains at a nascent stage, Mayank Jain, Director and Co-Founder of Crayon Motors, shares his optimism on the growth of the EV industry, especially with the government’s focus on increasing localisation through incentive programs such as FAME-II, PLI, and other initiatives that are promoting manufacturing and technology development in India.
How do you look at the government’s aim to have 40 percent electric vehicles on Indian roads by 2030?
The government has made it clear that it intends to electrify India’s mobility. Vehicle pollution contributes significantly to the overall pollution in cities. The electrification of India’s vehicles will help to reduce this mission; it is a commitment to where we are going and how the future looks. This will also serve as a catalyst for furthering the advancement of the technology used in electric mobility. One more thing we must acknowledge is that the Indian market is highly cost-sensitive. A lot of low-cost technical development is required to achieve this level of mobility on EVs. This will have a global impact on the viability and feasibility of EVs.
How are government measures supporting the localisation of batteries and other raw materials to improve India’s EV business?
The primary push for EV localisation has come from incentive programs such as FAME and other state government incentives for promoting manufacturing and technology development in India. Indeed, the PLI scheme for battery manufacturing has aided localisation in India. The overall impact of this policy will be seen in another 2–3 years. This is also the point at which we will begin to see the overall impact of localisation in India.

What opportunities and obstacles do EVs face in cities other than Tier II and Tier III?
Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India have been more welcoming to EVs. This has accelerated the entire transition to EVs at a much faster rate. Having said that, I believe the overall level of education and knowledge about EVs remains quite low. That is something we must work on. Along with this, EV players must prioritise easy repairs and spare parts availability, among other things, as this will help propel the journey forward.
What are your views on having more localisation and homegrown lithium-ion batteries for EVs?
In the long run, localisation is critical for the sector and India. This will serve as a stepping stone to “Atma Nirbharta,” as well as making India the global manufacturing hub. Apart from that, India being a very peculiar country, the development of technologies, including battery technologies, should be based on Indian weather conditions to capture and work in the myriad of different weather and road conditions that we encounter on a daily basis. Being said that, we must continue to learn, adapt, and adopt the best practices being implemented globally and ensure that they are executed in the best possible way in the Indian environment.