'There Is No Doubt That Electric Mobility Is Irreversible'
Auto Tech Review|June 2018

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) – a joint venture of four public sector undertakings – NTPC Ltd, Power Finance Corporation Ltd, Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd and Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (set up under the Ministry of Power, Government of India) – has been at the forefront of India’s ambitious electric mobility programme. Auto Tech Review caught up with Saurabh Kumar, Managing Director, EESL for a detailed understanding of its roadmap in creating an EV ecosystem.

Suhrid Barua
'There Is No Doubt That Electric Mobility Is Irreversible'

Saurabh Kumar has been serving as Managing Director of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) since May 2013. A 1992 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, Kumar is an Electrical Engineer from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur and earned a Master’s in Public Policy from National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies, Tokyo, Japan. Kumar served as Deputy Commissioner in various challenging assignments from 1992-2002. He has worked in various capacities in Income Tax Department, Ministry of Power, and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). Saurabh Kumar has been serving as Managing Director of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) since May 2013. He spearheaded several energy efficiency projects including Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) and Street Light National Programme (SLNP).

EESL has been championing the cause of electrical vehicles in India. How would you assess the overall EV push in India?

There are a few regulatory gaps that existed as far as electric mobility is concerned. Of course, the first key thing in electromobility is the creation of public charging infrastructure and for that you need standards and commercially viable tariffs, so that people are encouraged to put up these charging stations. There is a need for clear regulatory mechanisms, both in terms of fiscal incentives and non fiscal incentives, rebates, etc. All these need to happen before you see a full blown e-mobility in India like you see in Scandinavian countries, China or some parts of Europe. The government is working on these areas.

This story is from the June 2018 edition of Auto Tech Review.

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This story is from the June 2018 edition of Auto Tech Review.

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