Recently India and California entered into a collaboration for research and innovation in the field of zero-emission vehicles. With this, they aim to spur the development of its nascent EV industry and address climate change.
It is a known fact that California has the world’s most advanced zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) policies. The state also has an ambitious 100% ZEV mandate by 2035. As a part of the collaboration, a new India ZEV Research Centre is established by the research institute Davis Institute of Transportation Studies of the University of California.
The collaboration, California-India ZEV Policy Programme, aims to support ZEV uptake in India and to increase the development of the EV industry in India, thereby contributing to India’s industrial growth.
California-India ZEV Policy Programme was announced last week in Pittsburgh on the sidelines of the Clean Energy Ministerial attended by Union Science and Technology Minister Jitender Singh. Officials state that this partnership provides a unique opportunity for sub-national policy design as a lever for vehicle electrification. It also harnesses the role of states as key laboratories of innovation in both countries.
In 2023, India is set to host the Clean Energy Ministerial and the G20. This platform presents us with a unique opportunity to jointly accelerate ZEV transitions in both countries and to continue building on our commitment to addressing climate risks in the coming years.
While the two regions have unique differences, such as India’s large portfolio of two and three-wheelers, there are also common challenges, such as electrification of the hard-to-abate segment, including medium and heavy-duty trucks.
The collaboration will showcase best practices in EV adoption in India on international platforms and enhance the process of ZEV transition.
