Government’s research arm to develop indigenous EV technology to cut foreign dependence, ET Auto
New Delhi: Prime minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is aiming to facilitate indigenously-developed technology to become Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) in the growing electric vehicle (EV) sector by cutting dependence on China-led supply chain.
“We have launched a major program in developing the technology and components for electric vehicles or e-mobility that includes three verticals,” Department of Science & Technology (DST) secretary, and chief executive of Anusandhan National Research Foundation Abhay Karandikar told ETAuto.
“In Anrf, we are now seeing this to be a transformative step. Overall, Rs 14,000 crore allocation has been done for the foundation for a five-year term so that’s about INR 2000-2800 crore can be spent every year. We are expecting that it will really drive the R&D culture in the country,” the official added.
It has a mandate to prepare a roadmap for short, medium, and long-term for seeding and growing research activities in academic institutions.
The government’s research arm, according to the top official, aims to nurture and develop a homegrown ecosystem including innovative battery technologies, power electronics and charging infrastructure.
“So we have launched the program in all these three segments to propel indigenous manufacturing of electric vehicles and components which are now imported and we are currently dependent upon supply chains from China and other countries,” Karandikar added.
Recently, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India Nitin Gadkari said that India’s EV market has a potential to touch Rs 20 trillion, and would likely to create nearly 50 million jobs across the ecosystem by 2030.
With a vision to elevate the proportion of electric vehicles (EV) sales to 30% in private cars, 70% in commercial vehicles, 40% in buses, and 80% in two-wheelers and three-wheelers by 2030, India has an ambition of as many as 80 million EVs, hitting roads by 2030.
The Indian EV battery market is likely to surge to $27.70 billion by 2028, which may fuel demand of establishing at least 1.32 million charging stations by 2030, according to industry estimates.
“We have received proposals for research and development (R&D), and after review, we will fund and we want to do it through industry-academia partnership,” he said, adding that the industry should at least fund 10% of the spend so that it could have a role to play.
“In Anrf, we are now seeing this to be a transformative step. Rs 14,000 crore allocation has been done for the foundation for a five-year term so that’s about Rs 2000-2800 crore every year. We are expecting that it will really drive the R&D culture in the country,” the official said.
Karandikar further said that the foundation has set the next three years as a short term target to at least develop battery technology components, and five years would be a long-term goal where the country could be able to develop innovations in charging infrastructure and power electronics.
The newly-formed Anrf subsumed the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), established in 2008.
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