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Volvo revises 2030 target, shifts focus to hybrids amid slowing EV demand

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Volvo Cars has revised its 2030 target of going fully electric, now expecting to offer some hybrid models by that time. The automaker cited slowing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) due to a lack of affordable models, slow rollout of charging infrastructure, and upcoming European tariffs on electric cars made in China. Shares in Volvo dropped 7.5% following the announcement. Volvo now aims for 90% to 100% of its cars to be fully electric or…

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Eaton to establish Rs 2 billion R&D centre in Tamil Nadu

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Eaton, the over-century-old intelligent power management company, has announced plans to establish a research and development centre in Tamil Nadu, strengthening its presence in India. The new facility, spanning 1 lakh sq ft, will be located in Sholinganallur, Chengalpet district, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Chief Minister M K Stalin and Minister for Industries TRB Rajaa, currently in the United States to attract investments, signed a memorandum of understanding…

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Survey reveals 50% of Gen Z prefer solar energy solutions

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A recent survey assessing awareness of clean energy sources found that 50% of Gen Z respondents prefer solar energy solutions, closely followed by 46% of Millennials. The survey, conducted between February and March 2024, included 4,318 participants across five metros (Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai) and eight non-metro cities (Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Gurugram, Guwahati, Jaipur, Kochi, Lucknow, and Patna). The survey explored preferences across four age cohorts: Gen Z (18-22 years), Millennials (23-38 years), Gen X…

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48 per cent GST on hybrid cars, 5 per cent on EVs to stay: Amitabh Kant

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Mercedes-Benz India’s Managing Director and CEO, Santosh Iyer, has praised the Central government’s commitment to the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) cars to electric vehicles (EVs). Iyer referred to the recent statement by India’s G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant, reaffirming the country’s long-term plan to maintain a 5% tax on electric cars and 48% tax on hybrid vehicles.   On Thursday, Mercedes-Benz launched its first electric Maybach SUV, the Maybach EQS 680, starting at Rs 22.5…

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Government to launch FAME-III scheme within two months

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The Indian government plans to roll out the third phase of the Faster Adoption & Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme within the next two months, according to H D Kumaraswamy, Minister of Heavy Industries. Speaking at an industry event in New Delhi, Kumaraswamy emphasized the government’s commitment to advancing India’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, focusing on local manufacturing and sustainable growth. The FAME scheme, initiated in 2015 with an initial outlay of approximately Rs…

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IIT-Kharagpur study debunks claims of ‘severe ozone hole’ in tropics

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A new study led by Jayanarayanan Kuttippurath, a senior professor at IIT-Kharagpur’s Centre for Ocean, River, Atmosphere, and Land Sciences (CORAL), has refuted previous claims of a ‘severe ozone hole’ in the tropical stratosphere. The research, titled “No Severe Ozone Depletion in the Tropical Stratosphere in Recent Decades,” analyzed 42 years of data, dismissing concerns about ozone depletion in the tropics and associated health threats. Kuttippurath and his team examined ground-based ozonesonde and satellite data…

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India eyes pipeline network for cost-effective green hydrogen transport, study underway

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The Indian government has launched a study to assess the costs and reliability of transporting green hydrogen through pipelines from renewable energy regions to ports, for both domestic consumption and export. The study, led by a team including GAIL, Indian Oil Corporation (IoCL), the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), and NTPC, will explore the feasibility of transporting green hydrogen either via power transmission lines or pipelines. Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson of the CEA, noted the challenges of…

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NHPC revises MoU with Maharashtra government for 7,350 MW PSPs

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NHPC Limited has re-entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Maharashtra’s Department of Water Resources to develop 7,350 MW of renewable energy storage systems. The agreement focuses on four major pumped storage projects (PSPs) in the state: Kengadi (1,550 MW), Savitri (2,250 MW), Kalu (1,150 MW), and Jalond (2,400 MW). This revised MoU follows the issuance of a corrigendum to Maharashtra’s policy on PSP development through public-private partnerships.

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Borosil Renewables acquires 49 per cent stake in Clean Max

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Borosil Renewables Limited has signed a share purchase agreement with Clean Max Prithvi Private Limited (CMPPL) and Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions Private Limited (CMEESPL) to acquire a 49% stake in CMPPL. The acquisition involves purchasing 4,900 equity shares of Rs 10 each, representing 49% of CMPPL’s paid-up share capital, for Rs 49,000. Under the agreement, CMPPL plans to develop and operate a 16.50 MW hybrid solar-wind power plant in Gujarat. The power generated from…

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Waaree Renewable incorporates subsidiaries for solar and wind energy projects

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Waaree Renewable Technologies Limited has established two wholly owned subsidiaries, Sunsational Solar Private Limited and Sunsational Energy Private Limited. These subsidiaries will focus on the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity from non-conventional energy sources like solar and wind power. In addition to developing and operating power plants, the subsidiaries will provide engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for renewable energy projects across India. They also plan to develop solar parks and renewable energy…