Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. has voiced its astonishment regarding the Delhi government's recent electric vehicle (EV) policy, which no longer includes incentives for strong hybrid vehicles. Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer of Corporate Affairs at Maruti Suzuki, stated that the removal of these benefits was "very surprising," especially as the policy now places strong hybrids on the same platform as diesel vehicles, which are considered more polluting.
Delhi EV Policy: Hybrids vs. Diesel
During a recent media conference call, Bharti highlighted that the draft EV policy had initially proposed some benefits for strong hybrids. The final policy's change of stance has raised concerns within the company, which has invested significantly in developing cleaner technologies. While Maruti Suzuki welcomed the policy's incentives for battery electric vehicles, it questioned the parity drawn between strong hybrids and diesel fuel.
"In the draft policy, there was some benefit for strong hybrids. It was very surprising that it was removed from the final policy, particularly because now strong hybrids and diesel are on the same platform," Bharti explained. He emphasized the need for differentiation between cleaner and less clean fuel options to encourage sustainable mobility solutions.
Maruti Suzuki's Commitment to Green Technologies
Despite the policy shift, Maruti Suzuki reiterated its commitment to a broad spectrum of clean and green technologies. The company confirmed its continued efforts and investments in various solutions, including:
- Lithium-ion cells and electrodes for strong hybrids.
- Biofuels like ethanol.
- Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Compressed Biogas (CBG).
- Electric Vehicles (EVs).
- Hydrogen technology, which is currently under research.
The automaker's CNG vehicle penetration in its portfolio reached a record high of 42% in June, underscoring its diverse approach to cleaner mobility.
Push for Flex-Fuel Vehicles
Beyond hybrids and EVs, Maruti Suzuki is also actively promoting flex-fuel vehicles. Following the launch of its maiden flex-fuel car, the WagonR Bioflex, the company sees this technology as a significant long-term solution for India. Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing and Sales, noted that these vehicles can run on conventional fuel, eliminating the immediate need to wait for a widespread flex-fuel station network.
Maruti Suzuki's immediate priority is not sales generation for flex-fuel vehicles but rather to demonstrate commitment and encourage other stakeholders to invest in building the necessary ecosystem. "What is more important is to take the first step and give confidence to the other stakeholders that they can also start investing and building those pillars of the ecosystem," Bharti added, indicating a patient, long-term strategy for market leadership in sustainable transport.