Experts oppose swappable battery suggestion in electronic vehicle policy of Kerala

Kochi: Automobile industry experts have opposed some of the terms in the electronic vehicle policy drafted by the Kerala government which has set a target of putting 1 million electric vehicles on road by 2022.

Kerala government has released an EV policy focusing on transition of light electric vehicles including two-wheelers, three wheelers and cars through swappable batteries. The experts said the suggestions on swapping of batteries have been rejected in the most competent multi-stakeholder forums.

John K Paul ,managing director Popular Vehicles & Services Ltd while welcoming the policy said swapping continues to face unresolved issues for customers including safety, warranty and consistent performance. "It is too early in the innovation cycles of EVs to standardise anything.


Industry expert Mukesh Malhotra said : "Incentives and promotion by government should be technology agnostic. This would only lead to fair choices to customers and sustainable EV transition. Promoting standard batteries will curtail innovation and availability of best prevailing solutions to customers. It will also give undue advantage to companies promoting standard batteries.”