Focusing on R&D to the advance the EV ecosystem in India, the government has launched a ₹140 billion initiative through a collaboration between DST and Anusandhan National Research Foundation.
The Indian government, through the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), has launched a new initiative aimed at advancing the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem. To support this drive, the government has allocated ₹140 billion for research and development (R&D) over the next five years.
The programme will focus on key areas such as battery technology, power electronics, and charging infrastructure, with the objective of reducing India’s dependence on imports, particularly from China.
It will prioritise the development of battery technologies and components within the next three years, followed by advancements in charging infrastructure and power electronics.
In an Economic Times report, Abhay Karandikar, Chief Executive of the ANRF and secretary of DST, emphasised the importance of fostering indigenous manufacturing of EV components, which are currently imported. He also highlighted the need for industry-academia collaborations to fund R&D projects, with industry contributing at least 10% of the total costs.
Meanwhile, India’s growing EV market is expected to create significant economic opportunities, with Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari forecasting the sector’s potential to reach Rs 20 trillion by 2030 and generate up to 50 million jobs.
The government has set ambitious targets for EV adoption by 2030, aiming for 30% of private cars, 70% of commercial vehicles, 40% of buses, and 80% of two-wheelers and three-wheelers to be electric. This would result in 80 million EVs on the road. With the EV battery market projected to reach $27.70 billion by 2028, the demand for charging stations is expected to rise significantly, further driving the need for strategic R&D investments in the sector.
