India, California to collaborate on electric vehicles
INDIA has entered into collaboration with the US state of California for research and innovation in the field of zero-emission vehicles to spur the development of its nascent EV industry and address climate risks.
California has one of the world’s most advanced zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) policies. It has an ambitious 100 per cent ZEV mandate by 2035.
As part of the collaboration, Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis has established a new India ZEV Research Centre.
The California-India ZEV Policy programme is aimed at supporting ZEV uptake in India, spurring the development of an EV industry in India and contributing to India’s industrial growth.
In addition to addressing policy, technology, and investment strategies for a ZEV transition, it would identify opportunities for India to emerge as a strategic leader in the global ZEV transition.
Announced in Pittsburgh on the sidelines of the Clean Energy Ministerial attended by India’s science and technology minister Jitender Singh, the California-India ZEV partnership provides a unique opportunity for sub-national policy design as a lever for vehicle electrification, and importantly, harnesses the role of states as key laboratories of innovation, in both the countries and the global south, officials said.
‘The learnings from the California experience along with other regions, would offer India an opportunity to consider a mix of policies that would support the uptake of ZEVs while simultaneously spurring the development of a nascent industry that can bring with it important industrial growth,’ said Sripriya Ranganathan, deputy chief of mission at Indian Embassy.
As India prepares to host both the Clean Energy Ministerial and the G20 next year in 2023, she said the new platform will offer an opportunity to jointly accelerate ZEV transitions in developing countries.
According to the India ZEV Research Centre at UC Davis, India has led innovations in public procurement to spur EV adoption in public transportation, and electrification of last mile passenger and freight mobility in cities.