Latest news with #HybridElectricVehicles
Mint
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Mint
Hybrids vs EVs: New advisory for Delhi fleet operators adds fresh fuel to fire
New Delhi/Mumbai: A fresh advisory by New Delhi's air quality monitoring body has reignited the debate over whether hybrid vehicles can be included in the category of 'clean vehicles'. The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) in a 3 June advisory directed commercial fleet operators to not induct conventional petrol or diesel vehicles and prefer 'clean' automobiles instead, much to the chagrin of the electric vehicle lobby for not clearly defining clean vehicles. 'No conventional ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles running purely on diesel or petrol shall be further inducted in the existing fleet of 4-Wheeler LCVs (light commercial vehicles), 4-Wheeler LGVs (light goods vehicles; N1 category up to 3 5 Ton) and 2-Wheelers with effect from 01.01.2026," CAQM said in its advisory to vehicle aggregators, delivery service providers, and e-commerce entities. While it did not define 'clean vehicles' this time, CAQM in a 2 May advisory defined these as battery electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and those running on compressed natural gas (CNG). The ambiguity in the latest advisory has left the door open for the promotion of hybrid vehicles in the national capital, which struggles with among the highest pollution levels in the country. EV makers led by domestic car companies have been lobbying to not give hybrid vehicles—which use both a combustion engine and an electric motor for propulsion—a policy status on par with battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Doing so could risk their investments in developing electric cars, they said. A rival lobby has been promoting the adoption of hybrid cars as these provide a more practical alternative to conventional combustion engine vehicles. The two lobby groups are now reading between the lines of policy documents. The purity debate Following CAQM's 2 May advisory, Tata Motors Ltd, Hyundai Motor India, and Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd rushed to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Niti Aayog against the mention of hybrid vehicles as a clean technology along with EVs. The air quality monitoring body believes hybrid vehicles can help in urgently addressing the pollution crisis in Delhi. 'Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (SHEV) offer substantial improvements in fuel efficiency and emission reduction as compared to conventional diesel/petrol vehicles," CAQM said in its 2 May advisory urging state and central government departments in the Delhi-National Capital Region to procure only clean vehicles. The national capital region became a point of contention in the pure electric vehicle versus hybrid vehicle debate when the Delhi government on 22 April issued a draft policy proposing to grant hybrid cars the same benefits as fully electric cars. The Delhi Electric Vehicles Policy 2.0 proposed waiving road tax and registration fees on battery electric cars (BEVs), strong hybrid EVs (SHEVs), and plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs) priced up to ₹20 lakh ex-showroom. This would translate to savings of about ₹2 lakh on a car with an ex-factory price of ₹20 lakh. CAQM released its draft guidelines 10 days later. 'Inclusion of hybrid vehicles in incentives and putting it on the same pedestal as electric vehicles will discourage investments into EVs," an executive at one of the top domestic automakers said, declining to be identified. A move to hybrids Currently, only Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the country's largest carmaker, has a portfolio comprising ICE, hybrid, and pure electric vehicles. Last month, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the country's second-largest carmaker, said it planned to introduce hybrid electric vehicles in the country, without specifying a timeline. Honda Motor Co. Ltd said last month that it will focus on hybrid cars and slashed its EV target citing a slowdown in the adoption of electric cars. Analysts at HSBC Global Research, however, said hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles complement each other, and would ultimately help in the growth of the EV sector. 'The perception that promoting SHEVs will hinder EV adoption is misplaced, in our view. This is not a zero-sum game, but rather an incremental opportunity where incentivizing SHEVs contributes to the broader development of the clean mobility ecosystem, benefiting BEVs and advancing overall market growth," HSBC Global Research analysts Yogesh Aggarwal,Vipul Agrawal, and Vishal Goel wrote in a note dated 20 May. But other experts argue that only pure electric vehicles should be incentivized if the government wants to promote zero-emission vehicles. 'The objective of the EV policy is to cut down emissions of vehicles and also contribute to improving the air quality," said Sharif Qamar, associate director of transport and urban governance at The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri), a non-profit think tank. 'When it comes to the emission reduction objective, currently, only zero-tailpipe emission vehicles need to be prioritised. Incentives should be crafted to encourage players to move towards zero emission vehicles."
Daily Tribune
08-04-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Tribune
Toyota names four winners of Ramadan raffle draw
Ebrahim K. Kanoo, the exclusive distributor of Toyota in Bahrain, has successfully concluded its highly anticipated Ramadan campaign with a raffle draw held at the Toyota Showroom in Sitra, announcing four winners who each will drive away with a brand-new Toyota Raize. The raffle draw was held in the presence of EKK Management & a representative from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism. The lucky winners of the brand-new Toyota Raize vehicles were: Yaser Abdulrazzaq Ahmed Alhamdan, Fatema Abdulrahim Taleb Mohamed, Zainab Abdulla Mohamed Ali Mohamed, and Gulf Equipment and Technology W.L.L. This year's Ramadan campaign featured an enticing raffle draw, where customers automatically entered the raffle draw with any Toyota purchase for a chance to win one of four Toyota Raize vehicles. This campaign initiative resulted in a significant increase in showroom walk-ins and heightened customer engagement. Adding to the excitement, the Ramadan campaign offered a complimentary 1-year/20,000 km service package on all Hybrid Electric Vehicles, in addition to attractive financing options, and up to 25% discounts on Ziebart and Llumar products. Mr. Ismail Akbar, Toyota & Lexus Sales Executive General Manger expressed his delight at the successful conclusion of the campaign, stating, 'We are happy to announce the four lucky winners of the Toyota Bahrain raffle draw, each receiving a brand-new Toyota Raize. This exciting event reflects our appreciation for our valued customers, and we look forward to continuing to bring joy and innovation to their driving experience.' Toyota Bahrain extends its congratulations to the four winners and expresses its gratitude to all customers who benefited from the Ramadan campaign. The company remains committed to providing exceptional vehicles and customer service, reinforcing its position as a leading automotive brand in Bahrain.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Record-breaking revenue announced by Pennsylvania Department of General Services
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — Record-breaking revenue was announced by the Pennsylvania Department of General Services. Officials said revenue from state vehicle auctions reached an all-time high at $19.2 million over the past two years. In 2024, the Bureau of Vehicle Management (BVM) raised a record $10.1 million from vehicle auctions, breaking 2023's single-year record of $9.1 million, officials reported. the proactive vehicle replacement program not only generated record-breaking auction revenue but also saved the Commonwealth $1.5 million in repair costs over two years, they added. 'The Shapiro Administration's focus on smart fiscal policies and innovative solutions has delivered extraordinary results for Pennsylvania,' Brian Esposito, DGS Deputy Secretary for Procurement said in a release. 'Our vehicle replacement program is helping us provide Commonwealth employees with safer, more reliable vehicles while saving taxpayers money in the long term. By retiring older vehicles before maintenance costs escalate, we're making smarter fiscal decisions that benefit everyone.' Why are Pennsylvania flags lowered? Between 2023 and 2024, 43 percent of the Commonwealth's leased vehicles have been replaced. It's the largest fleet renewal effort in over a decade, the department reports. These efforts have reduced repair costs, improved reliability, and added cutting-edge safety technologies to protect state employees. The modernization efforts support Pennsylvania's sustainability efforts which currently include the following alternative fuel vehicles: 33 Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) in service, with an additional 39 in stock, including models such as the Chevy Bolt and Ford Mach-E 82 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) 138 Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)The BVM holds six vehicle auctions annually. Used Commonwealth vehicle auctions are open to the public, including auto dealers. The next auction will take place April 15. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
