For Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national and international Significance

 

For Mains Examination: GS III - Science and Technology

 

 

On August 26, the Prime Minister inaugurated and flagged off the “e Vitara”,  Maruti Suzuki’s first Made-in-India global Battery Electric Vehicle at the Suzuki Motor plant in Hansalpur, Ahmedabad. Officials said that these BEVs will be even exported to advanced markets like Europe and Japan

 

 

Types of Electric Vehicles

 

e-AMRIT portal

 

 

 

 

1. Maruti Suzuki’s EV Production
Maruti Suzuki is set to begin large-scale production of its electric vehicle from August 26 at the Hansalpur plant in Ahmedabad. This facility is notable for being India’s first automobile factory equipped with a Gati Shakti Multimodal Cargo Terminal, enabling rail-based car transportation.

2. India’s EV Transition Goals
India has set ambitious targets for electric mobility—by 2030, it aims for 80% of two- and three-wheelers, 40% of buses, and 30% of private cars to be electric. To support this transition, the Union Budget 2025 removed import duties on several raw materials crucial for lithium-ion battery manufacturing, giving a significant boost to domestic battery production.

3. Environmental Benefits of EVs
A joint study by IIT Roorkee and the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), published on World Environment Day 2025, highlighted that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in India produce up to 38% lower carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per kilometre compared to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) in the passenger car segment. The study also noted that as India’s electricity grid becomes greener, these emission reductions will increase further.

4. Types of Electric Vehicles (e-AMRIT classification)
According to the government’s e-AMRIT portal, four categories of EVs are available in India:

• Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV): Fully powered by lithium-ion batteries, replacing internal combustion engines completely. They are more efficient than hybrids and plug-in hybrids.

• Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV): Combines a traditional engine with a rechargeable battery that can be plugged into an external power source. More efficient than HEVs but less so than BEVs.

• Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV): Uses both a petrol engine and a battery-driven motor. The engine can also recharge the battery, but efficiency is lower than PHEVs or BEVs.

• Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV): Generates electricity using hydrogen and oxygen, releasing only heat and water. They run entirely on electricity but provide a driving range and refuelling experience similar to conventional cars.

5. Government Initiatives for EV Adoption
Several policy measures and schemes are underway to accelerate India’s EV adoption:

• PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-Drive): Introduced on October 1, 2024, replacing the earlier FAME and EMPS schemes. It offers direct purchase incentives and funding for EV charging infrastructure.

• e-AMRIT Portal: Launched at COP26 in Glasgow, developed by NITI Aayog, it provides comprehensive information on EV adoption, incentives, and investment opportunities.

• Production Linked Incentives (PLI-Auto): Operational since April 2020, covering 14 sectors, including advanced automotive technology products. It provides financial incentives to encourage domestic manufacturing with a minimum of 50% local value addition.

• PM e-Bus Sewa – Payment Security Mechanism (PSM): Approved in 2024 with a budget of ₹3,435.33 crore to support pro