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#India’s #EV Market Gains Momentum as Fuel Costs Rise, but Challenges Remain

Posted on June 4, 2026 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

Busy street scene in Chennai featuring an MTC electric bus and several electric scooters, with pedestrians and signage in the background.

India’s electric vehicle (EV) market is gaining traction as rising fuel prices, regulatory changes, and expanding model offerings encourage more consumers to switch from conventional vehicles.

Electric car sales rose 25% in the year ending March 2026, with EVs surpassing 5% of India’s passenger vehicle market—a key milestone often viewed as the threshold for mainstream adoption. Growth has been strongest in vehicles priced above ₹1 million, where EVs now account for one in every ten sales.

The recent surge in crude oil prices, driven in part by tensions in the Middle East, has strengthened the economic case for EVs. India imports nearly 90% of its oil requirements, making it vulnerable to global energy price fluctuations. Higher fuel costs have prompted increased consumer interest in electric mobility.

Long-term policy support is also expected to drive adoption. Proposed CAFE-3 emission standards, scheduled to take effect from April 2027, would significantly tighten fuel-efficiency and carbon-emission requirements for automakers. Industry analysts believe the new regulations could accelerate EV penetration by making compliance targets more stringent and enforceable.

State governments are also pushing the transition. Delhi has proposed phasing out registrations of new internal combustion engine (ICE) two- and three-wheelers by 2027 as part of efforts to reduce air pollution.

Analysts expect further growth to be supported by a strong pipeline of new EV launches, particularly in the passenger vehicle and two-wheeler segments. Nomura forecasts EV penetration in India’s passenger vehicle market could reach 9% by 2030.

Despite the positive outlook, significant challenges remain. Charging infrastructure continues to lag demand, with public charging stations increasing to more than 10,000 nationwide but remaining concentrated in a few states. Consumer concerns over charging availability and driving range continue to slow adoption.

India also remains heavily dependent on imported battery materials and rare earth elements, exposing the sector to supply-chain and geopolitical risks. Industry experts note that developing a fully integrated domestic EV supply chain could take more than a decade.

While rising fuel prices and supportive policies are boosting demand, industry observers say the pace of India’s EV transition will ultimately depend on regulatory certainty, infrastructure expansion, and stronger domestic manufacturing capabilities.

This version is structured in a concise business-news style, focusing on market trends, drivers, forecasts, and risks rather than narrative storytelling.

Source: BBC News

#DRC – #Kinshasa on verge of winning its bet on the #Cobalt market

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

Illustration of the Democratic Republic of the Congo highlighted on a map of Africa, featuring a mining scene with a mineral processing plant and various minerals like cobalt, copper, coltan, and lithium. The country's flag is prominently displayed.

Fully focused on its goal of regulating the precious mineral sector, Félix Tshisekedi’s presidency expects significant fiscal returns this year. The authorities, however, have had to contend with pressure from Chinese operators eager to obtain larger quotas, as well as the reluctance of certain administrations.

Under the presidency of Félix Tshisekedi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is aggressively reshaping its role in the global mineral market, specifically targeting the cobalt and gold sectors to maximize state revenue and economic sovereignty.

Fiscal Returns and Strategic Control

For 2026, the Congolese Treasury has set ambitious financial targets tied to its newfound status as a market “price maker”.

Projected Revenue: The government expects roughly $2.3 billion in public revenue this year from cobalt alone.
Market Influence: By implementing a strict quota system (capped at 96,600 tonnes for 2026), Kinshasa successfully pushed prices from $21,000 in early 2025 to over $56,000 as of April 2026.
Alternative Scenario: Authorities estimate that without these regulatory interventions, revenues would have been limited to approximately $617 million.

Friction with Chinese Operators

The administration is navigating complex relationships with Chinese mining companies, which currently dominate much of the DRC’s mineral extraction.

Quota Resistance: Major Chinese firms, notably CMOC Group, have vocally opposed the 2026 quotas, arguing they are too restrictive compared to their production capacity.
Processing Ultimatum: The Ministry of Mines is leveraging these quotas to force Chinese operators into local processing agreements, aiming to shift the country away from being a mere raw material exporter.
Audit of Legacy Deals: In March 2026, the government launched a comprehensive technical and financial audit of the Sicomines “infrastructure-for-minerals” deal to ensure compliance and fair returns.

Administrative and Geopolitical Hurdles

Domestic and international pressures continue to complicate the regulatory rollout:

Bureaucratic Reluctance: Delays in implementing new export procedures at the end of 2025 caused bottlenecks at key transit points like the Kasumbalesa border post, forcing the government to refine its administrative arrangements.
The “U.S. Pivot”: Under a strategic partnership signed in late 2025, the U.S. is pushing for access to critical minerals to counter Chinese dominance. This includes a 44-project shortlist handed to Washington in February 2026, creating additional geopolitical friction.
New Enforcement Measures: To counter administrative weakness, the state recently partnered with Quantum to establish a “tax brigade” for better oversight of mining operators.

#US government backs #Aclara’s separation facility study for #REE

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

Canada’s Aclara Resources announced on Wednesday a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration to find the best location for its planned rare earth separation facility.

This partnership, through the SelectUSA program, aims to find a cost-effective site for the plant, and to contribute to a resilient supply chain for critical materials essential in the U.S. high-tech sectors.

The location study will evaluate potential sites for Aclara’s separation facility with a focus on operational efficiency, cost management, and project timelines, the rare earths developer said in a statement.

“Aclara believes that it can contribute towards securing a resilient and independent supply chain for rare earths, which are critical materials for electromobility and other key high-tech sectors of the U.S. economy,” chief financial officer François Motte said.

Aclara aims to produce high-purity mixed rare earth concentrate (MREC) from its Penco module in Chile and the Carina project in Brazil. The company plans to use its patented technology designed to extract heavy rare earths from ionic clays.

#DOE Announces $2.26 Billion Loan to #Lithium Americas Corp.

Posted on October 29, 2024 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Loan Programs Office (LPO), today announced the closing of a $2.26 billion loan to Lithium Americas Corp’s subsidiary, Lithium Nevada Corp. (including $1.97 billion of principal and $289.7 million of capitalized interest), to help finance the construction of facilities for processing lithium at Thacker Pass in Humboldt County, Nevada.

The project is located next to a mine site that contains the largest confirmed lithium resource in North America. Once fully operational, the facilities are expected to produce approximately 40,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade lithium carbonate—supporting good-paying, high-quality jobs while helping ensure the United States can meet anticipated skyrocketing demand for the critical minerals necessary for the clean energy future. Today’s announcement reinforces the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to building America’s clean transportation future, boosting America’s global manufacturing competitiveness, and securing reliable domestic critical minerals supply chains.

Metals

#China metals firms see #US rules unlikely to upend supply chains

Posted on December 7, 2023 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

Chinese firms producing and processing battery materials see new US rules aimed at limiting Beijing’s grip on the electric-vehicle industry as less stringent than feared, allowing them to preserve a key role in the global supply chain.

Washington’s move, which seeks to cut China out of US tax credits and curb the country’s control over joint ventures, created uncertainty at the end of last week, with questions swirling around the status of Chinese-owned battery-material operations outside the mainland, and over the impact on the wider car and battery industry.