Why in the News
A PIB Backgrounder has highlighted the rapid growth of India’s Electric Vehicle (EV) ecosystem, showcasing significant progress in EV adoption, charging infrastructure, battery manufacturing, and government support.
What does the Backgrounder Highlight?
- EV Penetration: Increased from 0.08% in 2016 to 8.26% in 2026.
- EV Sales: Rose from about 50,000 units in 2016 to 2.3 million units in 2025.
- Charging Infrastructure: India had 52,718 public charging stations by July 2026, with a target of about 1.32 million stations by 2030.
- National Goal: Achieve a 30% share of electric vehicles in new vehicle sales by 2030 under the EV30@30 initiative.
PM E-DRIVE Scheme
- Full Form: PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE).
- Launched: 2024, replacing the FAME scheme.
- Outlay: ₹10,900 crore.
- Coverage: Electric two-wheelers. Electric three wheelers. Electric trucks. Electric buses. Electric ambulances.
- Objective: Accelerate EV adoption through demand incentives and supporting infrastructure.
Battery Manufacturing Push
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC)
- Outlay: ₹18,100 crore.
- Manufacturing Target: 50 GWh of Advanced Chemistry Cell battery capacity.
- Objective: Promote domestic battery manufacturing and reduce import dependence.
Earlier Initiative: FAME Scheme
- Full Form: Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME).
- Launched: 2015.
- Phase II: Implemented until 2024.
- Replaced by: PM E-DRIVE in 2024.
[2025] In the context of electric vehicle batteries, consider the following elements:
I. Cobalt
II. Graphite
III. Lithium
IV. Nickel
How many of the above usually make up battery cathodes?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All the four