The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has made a plan to set up an Evaluation Centre for electric vehicles. Rashmi Urdhwareshe, the Director of ARAI made the statement at a conference held at the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT). ARAI tests all types of automotive vehicles before getting in the sales market of India. As there are more chances to witness the launch of advanced electric vehicles in India during the next five years, the plans of association can be very effective at the time.
The Government of India allotted Rs. 80 crores to ARAI for setting up the facility at its campus in Pune, Maharashtra. Considering the moves, looks like Government is making an effort to promote Hybrid and Electric cars for the rapid Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles. A report from the sources say, a team from ARAI already made up offline simulators for zero-emission cars and hybrids.
Urdhwareshe said, “Electric mobility is identified as a key R&D initiative, especially light-weighting of materials which are used in buses. So, not only the electric side of it but comprehensive vehicle design changes is what we are working on. So we are looking at it with a real long-term direction for the mobility solutions. Creating a simulation environment for fast development is our focus area”
Meanwhile, Indian Government invited Tesla to set-up a production unit in India. Indian Minister of Road and Transport visited Tesla’s California based production plant, for establishing a production unit in the country.
Since the testing facility will help the fast-track to make an approval of low to no emission vehicles, the association is also looking forward to employ electric cars in government-owned fleets. However, progress can be seen in the commercial vehicle space, Electric vehicles and Hybrids still occupy a negligible share of the Indian automobile industry. With the manufacturers like Mahindra getting to expand company’s EV range and Tesla likely to start production in India, EV testing facilities at Evaluation Centre will play a key role in expanding India’s zero-emission car market.
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