ELECTRONIC VEHICLES

ELECTRONIC VEHICLES

TOPIC: Environment

Context- India is pushing for rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) but it does not have certain minerals that are required for batteries that are crucial to powering this transition.

• A latest study by the World Resources Institute suggests that India should focus on ensuring adequate long-term arrangements with other countries to procure such minerals and ensure a smooth path for EVs.

Concept-

About the Report:

• Batteries are a crucial requirement for electric vehicles (EVs) and minerals such as cobalt and lithium are crucial for making these batteries.
• According to the report, batteries require eight key raw materials including manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), aluminium (Al), graphite and titanium (Ti).
• India has existing reserves of Mn, Ni, Cu, and Al.
• India has no reserves of the other raw materials (Li).
  • Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme by NITI Aayog, which subsidises the setting up of Li-ion cell-manufacturing gigafactories.
  • NITI Aayog plans to transition three-wheelers to full EVs by 2023 and two-wheelers with an engine capacity of less than 150cc to full EVs by 2025.
• For the raw materials that India lacks, locking in arrangements now to procure ores or concentrates from other countries in the future would be extremely advantageous.
• The report suggested that infrastructure for recycling Li-ion batteries should be set up in parallel with the development of Gigafactories and other battery-industry-related efforts.
• It also highlighted that Indian companies need to focus on increasing the budget for R&D (Research and Development) to make rapid advances in battery technologies.