The Indian government may unveil the final road-map for the development of the domestic electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle - xEV - industry in April, after more than a year of talks, reports said.
A meeting for the final discussions on infrastructure creation and an incentives strategy for buyers is expected between stakeholders such as the government, industry and the academia, on February 23-24, sources said.
"Among the three core areas for exchanging views, a meeting on the research and development (R&D) requirements and investment has already happened," a top government official said.
He said that after this last discussion between the Board, the final shape of the policy would emerge. A ministerial-level meeting would be held in April to make a final announcement of the xEV policy. As announced by the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in last year's Budget, the Ministry of Heavy Industries, the nodal Ministry for the project, already set up a Board and a Minister-level Council for 'National Mission on xEVs'.
The government's ambitious intent on xEVs is also highlighted by a proposal to set up a Rs.740-crore R&D fund for the nascent sector in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17). A feasibility study was also commissioned to Booz-Allen last year by the Heavy Industry Ministry at a cost of Rs.90 lakh.
The plan is to get around challenges such as the high cost of key imported components such as the battery and electric motor and develop such capabilities locally.
Toyota Kirloskar, the only company to sell a hybrid in India, has sold 150 units of the Prius, which it imports as fully-built units.
At present, only Mahindra Reva sells a fully electric car in India, the Revai, while there are a few electric two-wheeler makers such as Hero Electric and Electrotherm.
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