The extension of FAME
Hemalatha Annamalai, CEO & Founder Ampere Electric Vehicle Pvt Ltd and South Chapter Chief, SMEV
“SMEV South Chapter questions FAME subsidies to advance batteries without performance test”
Reacting to the news about and only advanced chemistry batteries will be promoted in the Phase II of the scheme, Hemalatha Annamalai, CEO & Founder Ampere Electric Vehicle Pvt Ltd and South Chapter Chief, SMEV, said,
(1) Before removing subsidy for the lead acid battery two wheelers, can financing be enabled by nationalised banks and the rural development banks?
“There has to be some financing options from the banks for the lead battery EV two wheelers. Banks need to handhold the lower and middle income class and act as enabler. Whilst Subsidy may not be required for long term, it may be required until the industry gets volume drivers, ending the subsidy under FAME will completely make it unaffordable as it will be very difficult to buy EV two wheeler at their own, so financing through banks must be mandated quickly.”
(2) Has the Government have concrete data from Indian research labs on the advanced lithium ion battery chemistry’s performance characteristics for Indian temperate, power and road conditions?
“The India’s current EV ecosystem do not have the adequate number of lithium ion high powered vehicles on road. Moreover, these vehicles are costly as there is no manufacturing taking place in India and it’s mostly imported, which increases the overall cost of the vehicles. Couldthe government make GST as zero for first/second/third time buyers of the advanced batteries and for the entire duration of its usage? This will enable moving to ‘Electric’ to stay with ‘Electric’ for longer time.”
(3) On behalf of the EV industry, I request the Government to be considerate and be consultative before announcing such policies. No information on this abrupt discontinuity of subsidy for low speed models was discussed in the first place.
“Also, the proposal to put the speed limit for availing incentives will disrupt our planning and existing assembly line, on which huge investment have already been made,” she added.