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ShareNew Delhi: India has a rather insignificant presence on the global original equipment manufacturers' alternate fuel/hybrid vehicle roadmap. But this seems to be changing. At the ongoing Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota Motor Corp has reiterated plans to launch the world's most successful hybrid -- Prius -- in India early next year and compatriot Nissan says it is open to launching its electric cars here as well.
The enthusiasm shown by Toyota and Nissan follows close on the heels of General Motors India signing up with the Reva Electric Car Co for developing an electric 'Spark' indigenously.
Honda Motor Co launched its Civic Hybrid here but received only limited success and the car is now available only on order.
Homegrown Tata Motors is already in advanced stages of developing an electric 'Indica' and is also working on various other alternate fuel options, including what is famously known as a car "which runs on air" as well as a petrol-electric hybrid Indica.
Even commercial vehicle makers are experimenting with alternate fuel technologies. Eaton Corp has begun work with top CV makers in India to develop electric and hydraulic hybrid trucks and the first such vehicle could be on the road during the Commonwealth Games next year. Arun Jaura, VP, technology and head of Eaton India Engineering Centre, says, "These technologies are sustainable and the energy captured in hydraulic hybrids can be used for productivity gains in garbage collection trucks."
But is India ready for the electric/hybrid revolution? Speaking in Tokyo, Nissan Motor Company's CEO Carlos Ghosn said, "I think India will probably come at a later stage (in terms of launching electric vehicles) because of infrastructure."
Karl Slym, president & CEO of GM India, had acknowledged infrastructure issues exist for the Indian market while pointing out that only a live socket is needed for charging an electric 'Spark'.
But with erratic power supply in most parts of rural and semi-urban India, charging electric vehicles would obviously be an issue. Slym said that the electric Spark would be in the market by late next year, would be priced affordably but GM was not looking at significant volumes from this variant.
Even the price of such vehicles isn't conducive to the Indian buyer's psyche. In India, the Reva cars are priced between Rs 3.5-4.3 lakh.
Toyota has been trying to bring the Prius to India for about two years now but prohibitive import duties have made the proposition unviable. The Toyota Prius comes for about $22,000 in the US, or close to Rs 11 lakh. But the car would cost around Rs 25 lakh here because of total import levies of about 111%. So, will Toyota actually bring Prius at an exorbitant price tag or is it looking for some duty rationalisation in the Budget? This remains to be seen.
