EVs cannot completely displace ICE vehicles in India: Eric Vas

HYDERABAD: Speaking in length about all things EV and the reason behind turning the legendary Chetak into an electric scooter, Eric Vas, Vice President of Chetak Technology Ltd., the EV wing of Bajaj Auto, tells Deccan Chronicle that Indian EV makers must manufacture vehicles keeping in mind the global mindset, unlike the Chinese makers who landed in a mess by catering only to local demand.

Excerpts:

Q. Why the legendary Chetak for an EV?
A.  Chetak stands for certain timeless values like reliability, the ability to go anywhere, being solid and long lasting... We wanted to make an electric scooter keeping intact the values that are not intuitive to EVs. What better way than a Chetak to bring these values into an EV? We have a robust product, it is the only electric scooter with a metal bodỵ; its battery, charger, interior of the electronics and the controller are all built to last.

Q. What next for the Chetaks?

A.  We have been very true to what the Chetak is as a product and we are going to have more than one Chetak, with a new launch every year, adding to the range of scooters. We will have other models, with the same core values to cater to different kinds of customers.

Q. Do we have enough charging stations in our country to make the EV-shift soon?

A. Our philosophy, at Chetak Technology, is very different from the popular opinion of having set charging stations across towns for two-wheelers. Cars, of course, have a different reality as their batteries are much bigger, but for two-wheelers, there is no need to have charging stations set up in multiple locations. As electric two-wheelers cannot accommodate liquid-cooling technology which is a more effective way to cool the batteries down, charging stations which only offer fast charging are not necessary for two-wheelers as fast-charging leads to heating up of battery packs.

Q. What do you have to say about the reports that suggest about 20-30% of the two-wheelers and 10% of cars that will be sold in India by 2030, will be electric?

A. These reports, I feel, are too conservative. Today if you look at all India electric vehicle sales versus ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicle sales, EV sales have already reached about 7-9% of the ICE sales. If you look at the scooters, sales of electric scooters are already about 20% of that of ICE scooters and I think in the next two years it will go up to 70%. With the Indian government's constant push, the pivot point in EV sales will come sooner than a lot of people are expecting it to come.

Q. Does that mean the prices of EVs will be more competitive and affordable?

A. It is a million dollar question! There will be products engineered to lower price points. However, given today's products, the prices will increase as lithium ion cell costs are only going to go up.

Q. Are EVs, including Chetak popular in Tier II and Tier III cities?

A. We have found very good responses in these cities. I must share with you that I was surprised to see the appetite of the consumers in Tier II and Tier III cities. In proportion, these cities outperform big cities in EV sales because charging is less of a constraint as you don't have highrises there. The conflict of where to bring the power from or how to expand the cables is almost eliminated. Hence, consumers there were quicker to adapt to the idea of EVs.

Q. Five years from now, where do you see the Indian EV market?

A. India, for scooters will certainly turn EV-oriented country given the current thrust and resources being put together. All of us in the EV industry would love to see more, but to be realistic EVs in India might not be able to completely displace ICE vehicles. Both the technologies are going to co-exist.