Scaling up electric vehicles in India A focus on Maharashtra state, Mumbai Market formation and demand side policies

Abstract: Governments around the world have begun to adopt measures in support of electric vehicles. The supply push policies have been traditionally studied leaving the demand side innovation policy without much investigation. Therefore, policy makers lack institutional knowledge and policy experience. The demand side innovation policies have always been part of the public policy decisions but not part of the innovation policy strategy. They point on increasing the uptake of the innovation and the growth in manufacture production. The aim of this study is to find good policy pull strategies to support E-cars in India with a mix of policies to build the needed capacity for E-cars in Maharashtra state, Mumbai. Maharashtra has the highest number of vehicles in India with Mumbai being one of the most polluted cities in India. India wants to increase the domestic economic activity and reduce GHGs. E-cars are known to reduce CO2 emissions, pollutants, and noise. The research question is: How can Mumbai city implement policy pull-strategies that drive the scale up of E-cars? Firstly, barriers for E-cars development in India, Maharashtra state, Mumbai are identified. Subsequently, good policy actions are pointed out in the UK, Sunderland and China, Shenzhen city and suggested as possible actions for India. Data was found through a literature review of academic and non-academic sources, been compiled using a literature synthesis. A case based oriented research is used. The TIS framework is used to arrange the data and make the analysis. Key barriers identified are missing environmental reasons in policy designs, low car ownership preference of consumers, lack of proper infrastructure and standards, high upfront costs of E-cars and lack of waivers. Some UK learnings: include environmental issues in policies; inform consumers about E-cars total cost of ownership; develop E-cars charging infrastructure; encourage E-cars producers to adopt business models. Few recommendations from China: develop the charging infrastructure for E-buses; adopt business models for E-buses; adopt uniform charger standards. These recommendations for policy makers in India may support further academic research such as to study the environmental policy issues using the environmental evaluation framework due to the missing environmental instruments in policy actions, also to make a study with all including missing functions when data is available for a more complete understanding of the TIS in India.