Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Electric Vehicle Adoption Overshadowed By SUV Boom

There are now 200 million SUVs on the roads globally, up from 35 million in 2010, according to data the International Energy Agency (IEA). In fact, 60 percent of the increase of the global vehicle fleet since 2010 came from SUVs. Because SUVs are significantly less fuel efficient than smaller more compact cars, the impact on oil demand and greenhouse gas emissions is substantial. SUVs accounted for “all of the 3.3 million barrels a day growth in oil demand from passenger cars between 2010 and 2018,” the IEA said. EVs have been making significant headway in vehicle sales, raising hopes that... Read more..

In a first, NHAI uses plastic to lay road

BENGALURU: In a major eco-friendly initiative aimed at using plastic waste, the Bengaluru unit of the National Highway of India (NHAI) on Wednesday completed laying a 600m stretch on the Bengaluru-Hyderabad highway using plastic waste. This is in line with the repeated push given by the Central government to use plastic waste in road construction in the country after it was made mandatory in 2015. Director of the Project Implementation Unit of NHAI, Bengaluru, S P Somashekar told The New Indian Express, “For the first time, we have used 4% of plastic waste along with the bitumen and... Read more..

Bajaj's iconic Chetak makes a comeback in electric avatar

New Delhi, Oct 16 () Iconic scooter brand of yesteryears, Chetak is making a comeback in an electric avatar with Bajaj Auto on Wednesday announcing that it will sell electric scooters under the label as a premium offering. The company, which had vehemently opposed a proposal of Niti Aayog to go for 100 per cent electric vehicles (EVs) for three-wheelers by 2023 and two-wheelers with an engine capacity less than 150 cc by 2025, said its entry into the EV space is to get the first mover advantage in the segment. Bajaj Auto said it plans to start selling e-scooter Chetak from January onwards... Read more..

Industry seeks clarity on single-use plastic ban; officials say each state following its own policies is fragmenting industry

New Delhi: Industry has sought clarity on the government’s plan to phase out single-use plastic by 2022 and urged the Centre to issue clear guidelines. An outright ban would escalate costs and lead to job losses and disrupt supply chains, companies said. The uncertainty “has led to the closure of about 10,000 units and the plastic industry is staring at job losses of 4.5 lakh people ahead of the Diwali season,” said Jayesh Rambhia, co-chairman, environment committee, All India Plastic Manufacturers Association. “The industry urgently requires clear guidelines on what the short and long-... Read more..

Delhi: E-vehicles to have fixed parking spots

NEW DELHI: To make electric vehicles popular, the municipal corporations are now mulling over reserving spots and setting up charging stations in parking lots. South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) would be reserving five spots for electric vehicles in each of its parking lots. “This move is a part of the new parking policy. The list of parking lots where 70 charging stations will be set up has been finalised. We already have such charging stations in the underground parking of the municipal headquarters,” an official said. Earlier, Delhi government had announced that by 2023 it wanted... Read more..

India calls for a reset of climate debate on coal as a fuel

New Delhi: India on Tuesday called for a reset on climate debate on coal as a fuel, in the backdrop of India becoming one of the top renewable energy producers globally with ambitious capacity expansion plans. India’s position was articulated by power and renewable energy minister Raj Kumar Singh; commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and coal and mines minister Prahlad Joshi at the India Energy Forum by CERAWEEK. “The debate about coal needs to be restated or restructured. One should talk about emissions not not coal production. This whole premise needs to be re examined," said Raj... Read more..

Netherlands, India announce partnerships on eight tech projects

Governments and institutes from India and Netherlands announced partnerships on eight technology projects including the testing of a flying car developed by a company from Netherlands in Gujarat for border control, policing, and first aid. The other projects include the prevention of pollution and efficient water use in Kanpur-Unnao leather cluster, waste to wealth project in Hindon, healthy villages through primacy health and wellness centres, next generation automotive and internet innovations. The partnerships were announced during the inauguration of the 25th edition -CII India... Read more..

BP-RIL JV may roll out charging networks for electric vehicles

New Delhi: Attracted by India’s electric vehicle (EV) mobility play, the BP’s group joint venture (JV) with Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) may roll out charging networks across the country in the future, according to a top executive. This comes in the backdrop of RIL and BP JV having announced on 6 August their fuel retailing partnership for India. The joint venture, which is owned 51% by RIL and 49% by BP, plans to set up 5,500 fuel retail outlets across India. “As we plan to go forward is providing electric charging at the retail sites and networks. So, it doesn’t involve constructing the... Read more..

Avyan Renewable Solar’s Acquisition in SunEdison Reduced to 31%

Avyan Renewable Solar will now acquire 13,91,896 equity shares representing 31% of the equity share capital of SunEdison, according to a recent corporate filing by SunEdison with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Initially, the share purchase agreement (which has now been amended) was signed with SunEdison Infrastructure Limited (formerly YKM Industries Limited) to acquire 16,83,713 equity shares representing 37.50%. However, all other terms and conditions of the SPA will remain the same. According to the letter from Keynote Financial Services Limited, “Further, there has been no change in... Read more..

Take action on panel report seeking ban on sachets, pouches within 3 months, NGT tells Centre

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal Monday directed the Centre and other agencies to take action within three months on a report by an expert committee which sought ban on small water bottles, pouches and cups saying these constitute a considerable amount of plastic waste. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said that based on the recommendations of the expert committee, "the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Directorate General of Health Services, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and other agencies concerned shall take action within three months... Read more..

India's new mobility market expected to touch $90 bn by 2030: Data

India's new mobility market is expected to touch $90 billion by 2030. While revenue from the taxi cluster is expected to exceed $61 billion by the time, revenue from ride hailing is expected to hit $43.3 billion by 2025. Data from Frost & Sullivan comes at a time when the global trend is gradually shifting towards public and shared transport and the lack of infrastructure and parking is pushing people away from vehicle ownership. These factors are also leading to growth of alternate new moblility. According to data, new mobility will be driven by taxi services, expected to touch $61... Read more..

Ratan Tata to invest in electric two-wheeler start-up Tork Motors

Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, will invest an undisclosed amount in Pune-based electric vehicle start-up Tork Motors, just before the commercial launch of its flagship product T6X. Powered by lithium-ion batteries, T6X, the electric motorcycle, is engineered to travel at a top speed of 100 kmph, and runs 100 km on a single charge.
PUNE: Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, will invest an undisclosed amount in Pune-based electric vehicle start-up Tork Motors, just before the commercial launch of its flagship product T6X.

Tork Motors, is a maker of... Read more..