ICE is a “dead technology”: Amitabh Kant G20 sherpa. Are EVs the future?

The G20 sherpa and former CEO of NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant, emphasized the EV manufacturers to make India the largest producer and exporter of electric vehicles, declaring that internal combustion engines (ICEs) are a "dead technology."

Keynote speaker at Ather's community day event in Bengaluru on April 6th, Kant stated, “We are the world's largest exporter of two-wheelers; in my opinion, ICE technology is dead, and EVs are upending the industry, that's why companies like Ather have to produce for the entire world as well as India.”

Kant has pushed for the production of electric two-wheelers for the international market by Indian EV companies. “It's the way business owners think. India is a sizable market, but we often forget that the export market offers five times as much as the domestic market. Exports have been the main factor in India's growth each time,” he claimed. He went on to say that by 2030, all transportation would be electric, and India needs to seize this chance.

Kant's remarks coincide with the central government's decision to cut the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicle (FAME) scheme's budget by almost 44%, to Rs 2,671 crore for FY25. This could cause the country to see a slowdown in the uptake of electric vehicles.

According to the government's budget allocation document released on February 1, 2024, the government allotted a revised estimate of about Rs 4,807 crore for FAME initiatives in FY24.

Moreover, speaking about talent development in the EV sector, Kant stated that the Centre has collaborated on electric mobility courses with about 20 IITs and IIITs. "We need product developers, data scientists, prompt engineers and many institutions should adjust their curriculum based on this," he stated.

Kant offered some guidance to EV producers, advising them not to "burn cash" by offering low-quality, lower-priced goods for sale. "Never lose money on a car sale by sacrificing quality... Make a brand for the Indian middle-class," he concluded.