TWO WHEELS GOOD

TARUN MEHTA, CO-FOUNDER & CEO, ATHER ENERGY, ON HOW THE ELECTRIC SCOOTER WILL BE A SUCCESS ONCE CONSUMERS FIND THE EXPERIENCE ENTHRALLING

- JAYASHREE MENDES

LAST WEEK, THE ARVIND KEJRIWAL GOVERNMENT in Delhi launched the Electric Vehicle Policy for the national capital under which the AAP government will waive registration fee, road tax, and provide an incentive of up to Rs 1.5 lakh for new cars. With this policy, the government aims to generate employment to give a boost to Delhi's economy and reduce pollution levels in the national capital.

This spells good news to electric vehicles makers who have been waiting patiently for the government to kick-start the EV regime. Under the policy, the Delhi government will give incentive of up to Rs 30,000 for two-wheelers, autos, e-rickshaws and freight vehicles while for cars, it will provide an incentive of up to Rs 1.5 lakh.

While India has several EV makers, one twowheeler company that stands out is Ather Energy. Its co-founder & CEO Tarun Mehta has for long been a strong proponent of electric vehicles. The announcement by the Delhi government also prompted the company to declare its intention to begin sales operations of the 450X in Delhi.

Manufacturing Today speaks to Tarun Mehta to understand his journey, the adventure, and his determination.

Though the government is supporting EVs, it hasn't taken off. What are some of the reasons?

TM: Actually, it’s a misnomer that the strategy hasn't worked. People haven't understood how the industry works. The automotive industry does not operate in quarters or months. It operations in spans of half a decade or decades, and if you look at the timeline, it was sometime in 2018 that the government started talking about electric. In the same year, it offered incentives. So these things take time.