Question : Clean Energy in Transportation

(a) whether electric transportation has been considered as one of the viable approaches to cut down emission as various Indian cities including Delhi have been struggling to cut down their pollution level for the last several years;

(b) if so, whether the Government is committed to take steps for energy security and clean energy;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the initiative taken by the Government for energy security and clean energy;

(d) whether the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Libcoin are in dialogue to form a world class consortium to initially build 1GWh lithium ion battery plant in India;

(e) if so, the facts thereof and the result achieved so far in this regard; and

(f) whether this project will bring energy independence by replacing oil imports with abundant renewable energy and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIES & PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
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(a) to (c): To promote manufacturing of electric and hybrid vehicle technology and to ensure sustainable growth of the same, Department of Heavy Industry has formulated a scheme namely FAME-India Scheme [Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India] w.e.f. 1st April 2015 (Phase-I), which was initially upto 31st March 2017.Further, the scheme has been extended till 31st March, 2019 or till Notification of FAME-II, whichever is earlier. The Scheme is one of the green initiatives of the Government of India, which will be one of the biggest contributors in reducing pollution from road transport sector in near future. The Scheme has four focus areas namely Demand Creation, Pilot Project, Technology Development/ R&D and Charging Infrastructure.

Under Demand Creation focus area of the scheme, the purchaser of electric/hybrid vehicles is given an upfront reduction in purchase price by the dealer at the time of purchase of xEVs. Since inception of the scheme & till 07th February 2019, the Government has given financial support (demand incentive) to about 2,65,455 electric/hybrid vehicles. In addition to above, 585 electric buses have also been sanctioned to various cities/ states under this scheme. Specific projects received under different focus areas i.e. Pilot Projects, Technology Platform/R&D and Charging Infrastructure are funded under the scheme by the Government to promote research in development of Electric Automobiles in India.

(d) & (e): BHEL had floated an Expression of Interest (EoI) for “Setting up 1 GWh Lithium Ion based Cell Manufacturing Facility through JV route”.

M/s LIBCOIN has submitted its response against this EoI, which is under evaluation by BHEL.

(f): Use of alternate energy sources along with energy storage facility is expected to reduce dependence on conventional fuels such as oil.

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