Inclusive EV growth crucial for India: HD Kumaraswamy

Metro India News | NEW DELHI

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Monday emphasised that India’s transition to electric mobility must remain inclusive and economically sustainable, with a strong focus on affordability, scalability, and accessibility across both urban and rural regions.

Speaking at the launch of the Light Electric-Vehicle Acceleration Forum (LEAF), Kumaraswamy said the next phase of EV growth should move beyond merely increasing the number of charging stations. Instead, the focus must shift to ensuring reliability, ease of access, and interoperability—allowing different EV models to use common charging infrastructure seamlessly.

He highlighted that electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers will play a central role in India’s EV journey, as they are widely used by millions for daily commuting and livelihoods. Ensuring cost-effective solutions for these segments will be crucial for mass adoption.

The minister also noted that India has the potential to emerge as a global leader in electric mobility by developing scalable and affordable solutions that can be exported to emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Kumaraswamy stressed that strong collaboration between the government and industry will be key to achieving this transition. He assured continued policy support, innovation incentives, and efforts to strengthen manufacturing ecosystems.

The LEAF initiative, backed by companies such as Hero MotoCorp and Ather Energy, aims to build a unified and efficient EV charging ecosystem to accelerate adoption, particularly in the light electric vehicle segment.a