India's first EV consortium launch on July 15

Even though India got its first electric car in 2001, and electric two-wheelers many years ago, the domestic electric vehicle (EV) industry is still at a nascent stage.

In order to give it a boost through collective efforts, a group of OEMs, along with industry  bodies, have formed a consortium called xEV One. The launch of the consortium is scheduled for July 15, 2016. The members of the consortium include Mahindra & Mahindra, Mahindra Reva, Maruti Suzuki India, Ford India, Tata Motors, SIAM and ARAI. The new step is part of the central government's Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME) scheme.

Currently, Mahindra Reva is the sole electric car maker in India. Arvind Mathew, CEO, Mahindra Reva, is optimistic that the consortium approach will help grow the industry better. A major concern of the EV industry, the lack of a proper vendor network for EVs, is expected to be addressed by xEV One. "The components industry in India didn’t exist in 1991, and now, for some of the traditional industries, the component space is very highly developed. I’m not expecting much in the short term, but in the long term, I’m hoping that we can do in India what we currently import from China," Mathew told Autocar Professional. Currently, many components including the most critical and expensive battery pack for EVs are imported from China.

There is no component manufacturer in xEV One now. Its members will come together and share projections and plans with component manufacturers to bring them on board the consortium.

Meanwhile, Union minister Nitin Gadkario, a strong advocate of EVs, is currently in the USA holding official talks with his counterpart US Secretary of Transportation, Anthony Foxx in Washington on a wide range of projects of mutual interest including development of green fuels in the automobile sector and electric vehicles.