The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Heavy Industries, hosted the 2nd edition of the 'Green Plate EV Rally' at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
The event, held under SIAM's Electrification' initiative, aimed to raise awareness about the environmental and economic benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) and encourage their adoption as a sustainable mobility solution across India.
Flagged off by Chief Guest H D Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Heavy Industries & Steel, and Guest of Honour Narain Karthikeyan, India’s first Formula 1 racer, the rally showcased 151 EVs from 16 OEMs. The display included 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers, cars, buses, and trucks, demonstrating advancements in EV technology and underscoring the growing availability of EV models across various vehicle categories in India.
Kumaraswamy said, “This rally provides a platform for customers to experience firsthand the superior performance and cost-efficiency of EVs. The Ministry remains committed to ensuring the widespread adoption of EVs for the benefit of all sectors of society.'
Vinod Aggarwal, President of SIAM and MD & CEO of VE Commercial Vehicles, emphasized the rally’s focus on building customer confidence in EVs by addressing concerns like range anxiety and charging infrastructure. “The 2nd Green Plate EV Rally, part of SIAM’s Electrification initiative, showcases the technological progress made by Indian OEMs in electric mobility,” he said.
The rally’s inaugural session, themed “Electric Vehicles for a Green Future,” was moderated by Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director of SIAM. He expressed pride in the 151 EVs contributed by 16 OEMs for the event and highlighted SIAM’s role in accelerating EV adoption in India.
Shailesh Chandra, Vice President of SIAM and Managing Director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, praised India’s rapid EV growth, supported by government policies such as lower GST for EVs and initiatives like FAME and PLI schemes. “India now has over 8,000 electric buses on the road, with 5% EV penetration in 2-wheelers, 15% in 3-wheelers, and 2% in 4-wheelers, supported by over 12,000 public chargers,” he noted. Chandra stressed the importance of continued government support and expanded charging infrastructure to sustain this momentum.
Rajesh Menon, Director General of SIAM, thanked the government and industry leaders for their support. He highlighted the potential of EVs as a key solution to reduce carbon emissions and transform India’s automotive landscape.
The event also featured a 'Myth Busting Session' at the Switch Delhi Rajghat EV Charging Station to address common misconceptions about EV charging times and reassure the public about the practicality of EVs. Industry leaders such as Sushant Naik, Chairman of SIAM Electric Mobility Group, and Vipin Surana, Co-Chairman, shared further insights on EV adoption and infrastructure development in India.
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