(a) whether the Government has accorded top priority to convert public transport to electric mobility under FAME II and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government proposes to set up facilities for making lithium-ion batteries in the country to lower the cost of electric vehicles and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to develop low cost lithium-ion batteries in the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIES & PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
(a): The Phase-II of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME-II) Scheme proposes to give a push to electric vehicles (EVs) in public transport and seeks to encourage adoption of EVs by way of market creation and demand aggregation. The draft scheme has envisaged the holistic growth of EV industry, including providing for charging infrastructure, research and development of EV technologies and push towards greater indigenization. The scheme has not been finalized yet.
(b) & (c): No, Madam. At present, no proposal to set up facilities for making lithium-ion batteries by the Government is under consideration of Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises.
However, to promote electric mobility in the country, specific projects under Pilot Projects, Technology Development/R&D and Public Charging Infrastructure components of FAME India Scheme are considered for extending grant by the Project Implementation & Sanctioning Committee, constituted under this scheme.
Further Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has developed Lithium-ion Batteries for use in satellites and launch vehicles and has already been incorporated in recent space missions. Four types of batteries have been developed viz. 1.5 Ah, 5 Ah, 50 Ah and 100 Ah. Out of this ISRO has supplied 50 Ah Lithium-ion cells to Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). The Lithium-ion Battery developed by ISRO was successfully demonstrated in a prototype two-wheeler at the symposium on International Automotive Technologies (SIAT-2017) on 19th January 2017.
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