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​August 2020 Gossip : Indian Mainstream Media's anti Electric Vehicle agenda

August 5th | Electric Vehicles

Sometimes, Seriously Bad. Mostly Hilarious! ​
  • The Dirty Secrets Of ‘Clean’ Electric Vehicles. Read this propaganda piece for the fossil fuel industry
    • So let's all hail this "pièce de résistance", from an author, Mr Tilak Doshi, who who has worked for the oil and gas industry for majority of his career. We thought we will let you know. Now that we have that out of the way, let's move on. 
      This poorly researched opinion piece contains all the classic anti EV propaganda, which we have heard from the fossil fuel industry before and have been debunked by independent scientists and researchers.
      The author paints the picture of children mining cobalt in Africa which contradicts the clean image of Electric Vehicles.
      And then goes on to quote from one professor "Kelly", who says we would need huge amounts of Lithium, Cobalt, Copper etc, if the world is to transition to electric mobility. And mining all this minerals would cause huge environmental issues for the world.
      While we totally abhor the use of child labor, Mr Tilak Doshi, has no clue and does not understand the reality of the Indian electric vehicle scene. Most electric vehicles sold in India use the Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery, which does not use Cobalt at all. Tesla has contracted LG Chem and CATL to make the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
      Another fact that these anti EV articles won't even bother to mention is that an Electric vehicles use few kgs of Lithium and other minerals, over a 12-13 year period. Remember batteries have second, third lives and minerals can be recycled. 
      Compare that to thousands of litres of oil that internal combustion vehicles burn over their lifetime. Not to mention the pollution caused in our cities and 0 recyclability of oil. The environmental impact of oil is way more than minerals used in a battery.
      Oh, then there is innovation happening with mining firms open to more sustainable raw-material extraction with focus on water management, emissions reduction and recycling. Also the world has enough lithium and other minerals to last many decades. 
      Also, if the author is criticising lithium mining operations in Chile, Africa, how about also discussing the terrible environmental impact of extracting shale gas in the USA or crude oil in Nigeria or talk about the huge environmental issues with the oil industry.
      Of course, Mr Tilak who has worked in the Oil industry wont choose to see the reality regarding EV batteries or talk about how damaging the fossil fuel industry is to the planet and our cities. 
      And then Mr Tilak raises the usual coal complaint and claims Electric vehicles cause more pollution. 
      It's hard to believe at this stage of the game that anyone still believes that old red herring - about coal and electric vehicles. It has been proven again and again that fuelling an electric car/scooter with electricity produced from coal power plants is still cleaner, cheaper and more efficient than using petrol or diesel.
      Ultimately Mr Tilak Doshi and other EV cynics are people, who take delight in sensational or dramatic headlines like the "Dirty Secrets Of ‘Clean’ Electric Vehicles". 
      To them we will say "your time is up" and quote Nikola Tesla - "Electric power is everywhere present in unlimited quantities and can drive the world's machinery and vehicles without the need of coal, oil, gas"
      ​- PluginIndia​

  • Solar energy badly harms the environment. It must be taxed, not subsidised. Read this wild opinion piece who wants to keep burning coal.
    • ​The author talks about how Donald Trump was right in walking out of the Climate Agreement! When the planet is at stake, the President of the largest polluter in the world walks out of a meeting to come to an agreement and this guy has the nerve to applaud him and then criticises our Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not doing the same.
      The author then talks about taxes and subsidies for the solar industry. How about this, Sherlock? Diesel has been highly subsidised in India for decades and no one apparently has any problems with that. India is one the countries with the largest number of diesel cars on the road, due to the subsidised cost of diesel, and diesel is way more harmful than petrol.
      He then talks about poor quality of solar power systems. His rooftop system must be installed terribly with cheap quality materials or bad maintenance or he's just bluffing.
      He then talks about battery technologies and how it cannot improve. He's basically the kind of person who would have said that humans can never build an airplane. And that statement would be more acceptable because there was really no working prototype till the Wright Brothers made one! 
      Here, we already have electric cars, planes, ships albeit they need to improve, which is a matter of time.
      This is another pathetic attempt by mainstream media to discredit a positive environmental technology with the aim of propagating the oil industry.
      ​- PluginIndia​
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  • Study claims switching to EV's won't alone help India's environment. Here's why. Read another propaganda piece for the fossil fuel industry 
    • So, another article from mainstream media denouncing electric vehicles, eh? What a surprise!
      This poor article is quoting some research from a certain Radboud University in Netherlands. Hindustan Times has not even bothered to link the research article for reference. 
      So we had to google this Radboud University and we found that the professor saying this - "The answer is clear: to reduce carbon emissions, we should choose electric cars and household heat pumps over fossil-fuel alternatives."
      This article from the       Hindustan Times assumes that India's electric grid is 100% based on coal and discounts the fact that India's renewable energy mix has grown to 36% and will grow more in the coming decade.
      Ultimately this article has depth or any sort of analysis into the research they seem to quote.
      Horrendous stuff from Hindustan Times. 
      ​- PluginIndia

July 2020 Gossip : Kia Seltos EV

  • Leaked Document Confirms Kia Seltos EV Set To Be Launched This Year. More EV Gossip
  • ​So Gaadiwaadi has a scoop on a secret document about the Kia Seltos EV. Kia Motors has not announced any electrics and is happy to sell more OIL guzzler SUV's in the India market. Does India need more large OIL guzzlers?
    That is exactly what is being shoved down Indian consumer's throats. Kia Electric Car is far away from reality for India.
    As usual these clickbait articles continue at GaadiWaadi. SOH.     - PluginIndia​

June 2020 Gossip : Okinawa Oki 100, Mahindra eXUV300

  • Okinawa Oki100 motorcycle: another rebranded Chinese EV?  Read more about this important question from AutoCarIndia!
    • So we are used to ICE vehicle centric website like AutocarIndia taking pot shots at EVs. They have done it in the past and will continue to do so. Consider this Okinawa Praise scooter 'review' from AutoCarIndia for instance. 
      The article starts with this line.       "I was pushing the Okinawa Ridge up a flyover on the very first day I got it."
      Essentially telling people that you will have to push your electric scooter everyday, which is completely wrong. 
      Sensationalism just because the vehicle is electric.
      When the founder of this giant media company says diesel cars are green, we know where their priorities are.
      However this time, they do ask a pertinent question to Okinawa electric scooters, who have been caught selling Chinese branded scooters before. How can we trust them now with the Oki100?
      Both Okinawa and AutoCarIndia need to start answering some questions. 
      - PluginIndia​
  • Mahindra eXUV300 To Offer Range Of More Than 370 Km!!! Read more hot gossip from the usual!
    • Gaadiwaadi strikes again! Looks like they need to have an everyday EV gossip article fresh on the table. Again there was no official quote from Mahindra Electric. Usually OEM's these days, don't even reveal specifications during the launch event and apparently Gaadiwaadi has information on exact range! - PluginIndia​

May 2020 Gossip : Contessa Electric Car,
​Michael Moore's pseudo documentary, Electric Motorcycles 

  • Concept Design of Hindustan Motors Contessa EV. Read about this good effort but pointless exercise 🔗
    • Can Hindustan Motors, makers of the Ambassador and the Contessa cars, resurrect themselves and be an only EV company, to help the nation? 
      Let them make some official statements before we even consider these in artistic concepts which usually never sees the light of the day.
      - PluginIndia​
  • ​Climate experts call for 'dangerous' Michael Moore film to be taken down. Read about the reaction to the critically panned documentary 🔗
    • Michael Moore's Planet of the Humans documentary is critically panned by scientists and academia and rightly so.
      • The film mentions that “Some solar panels are built to last 10 years", while manufacturers are offering 25 year warranties these days.
      • After taking potshots at wind energy, they switch to EVs and use the same old tired cliches about EVs and coal, which have been debunked many years ago by researchers and independent scientists.
​               There is absolutely no need indeed to give this pseudo "documentary" any more thought or clicks 
                - PluginIndia​
  • "Electric Motorcycles Are Unnecessary" says Motorbeam. Read this Pandering to BIG ICE! ​🔗
    • This poorly researched 'opinion' piece trashes an innovative startup like Ultraviloet who are launching a high powered electric motorcycles. They also say that Hero, TVS are only launching petrol based pollution motorcycles and care two hoots about electric motorcycles.
      Well, again how naive can these petrol heads be? Hero, TVS are not making electrics because all they care about is the bottom line and making money! They sell lakhs of pollution motorcycles to hapless Indian consumers, so why would they even care to change by offering electrics. 
      And then there are the usual limited range, lack of lithium, the standard coal argument. Everything to just show how these auto magazines and websites have an agenda against electric vehicles. 
      All of them will tow in line soon. It's just a matter of time.
      - PluginIndia​

April 2020 Gossip : New Hyundai Electric SUV, Maruti 800 EV!

  • Hyundai Now Working On Nexon EV Rival Electric SUV With 300 KM Range. Read this gossip 🔗
    • So one SS Kim, managing director at Hyundai has apparently given information to GaadiWaali that Hyundai will launch another electric car to compete against Kona! There are no sources or comments. GaadiWaali also speculates the range of this hypothetical electric car!
      - PluginIndia​
  • After Kona EV, Hyundai to launch Electric SUV to take on Nexon EV. Read this corporate talk 🔗
    • ​So after 2 years, Hyundai may get serious about EVs. SMH!  Hey! Until then, you have the Kona, which Hyundai will ensure they sell in limited numbers at inflated pricing to show they are part of the EV movement. The reality is different.
  • ​2021 Maruti 800 Electric Hatchback Imagined With High Tech Features. Read this wild speculation piece 🔗
    • ​So someone's imagination is news now? Way to go Gaadiwaali - create sensational EV stories for views.
      Maruti have opposed EVs for a long time. There is not a single authentic source if they are indeed planning an electric 800 and yet the speculative nonsense goes on!

March 2020 Gossip : Toyota H2 Cars, Fiat Electric Jeep!,
​Maruti WagonR EV, Vespa Elettrica

  • Toyota testing hydrogen fuel cell electric car in India. Read this typical Toyota move 🔗
    • When the entire industry is moving electric, Toyota remains adamant about hydrogen cars. They don't seem to have the have the will or the balls to switch to electric. It's clear that they don’t care about zero-emission transport. They just want to keep pushing more pollution cars or hybrid models in our cities. 
      Face it Toyota, the Prius and other hybrids belong to the last decade and hydrogen is a distraction.
      Either join the EV race this decade or get out!​ - PluginIndia
  • Fiat Chrysler Could Launch Jeep Electric SUV In India! Read this gossip 🔗
    • Fiat doesn't even want to sell it's one bona fide EV, the Fiat 500e. They literally begged consumers to not buy the car because they 'claimed', the 500e made the company no money. So the idea that they're bringing a jeep EV to India is hilarious!
      Wish sites like gaadiwaadi would stop printing obvious lies just for clicks.       - PluginIndia
  • Made in India electric car from Hyundai to take on Maruti WagonR EV! Read this amazing speculation 🔗
    • Where is the Maruti WagonR EV? Do we see them on Indian roads? Does Maruti even care about electric vehicles? 
      And Hyundai has not announced any new electric car model. So Rushlane is comparing one hypothetical EV with another hypothetical EV and showing this, as news. What quality journalism here!       - PluginIndia​​
  • Vespa Elettrica to arrive in India by June as CBU! Read about this typical ICE company move 🔗
    • These ​Vespa guys have been showing the Vespa Elettrica since 2018 in multiple auto expos. But as usual when it comes to electrics, these ICE manufacturers ensure limited production, no plans or a vision to launch officially. As usual we see more corporate talk by Vespa officials here - PluginIndia​​​

February 2020 Gossip : Mahindra Electric exports, Pune Electric Bus, 
​Maruti - Indians not ready for EV's!, ​Hero Motors eMaestro! 

  • Hero MotoCorp developing eMaestro electric scooter. Read the gossip 🔗
    • ​zzzzzzz! There was no quote, no commitment from the company, yet the speculative nonsense goes on. Hero Motorcorp only cares about dumping more pollution motorbikes on our roads and increase their bottle line. They have announced nothing about EVs, nor have acted to help clean up the air in our cities. - PluginIndia​​​​​

  • The biggest challenge for mass adoption of electric vehicles in India: Price. Read the usual excuses by mainstream media  🔗
    • First it was charging infrastructure and now prices. The sensational EV pieces keep coming!
      The biggest challenge for mass adoption is getting every ICE vehicle manufacturer on board. Let every ICE manufacturer have
      2-3 EV options in their portfolio, with a willingness to sell and EVs displayed in all their dealerships. Then see EVs take off.       - PluginIndia
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  • Maruti the leading pollution car maker says - "India's not ready for EVs yet". Read this shortsightedness 🔗
    • So Hyundai has sold out all its Kona units in India, and new buyers will have to wait for six months before they can get their hands on one. Meanwhile, Indian consumers have pre-ordered about 2500 units of the MG ZS EV. Finally, Tata recently unveiled its entire long-term strategy for its electric lineup, including 600+ DC fast charging stations across India.
      But Maruti is still labouring under the delusion that Indians aren't ready for EVs. 
      Guess all that exhaust smoke from their terrible hatchbacks is making them high. Good for them.
      They'll realise the competition has left them far behind only after the smoke clears, by which time it'll likely be too late!       - PluginIndia​​​​​
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  • Mahindra Electric are apparently looking to export Electric Vehicle drivetrains abroad. Read this gossip 🔗
    • Hey Mahindra Electric, as of early 2020, you don't even have a decent competitive EV in the Indian Market apart from the eVerito and you want to export expertise? 
      ​How about some focus for India?      - PluginIndia​      ​​​​

  • Can Pune's Electric Bus model help solve India's public transport crisis? Read this important question being asked 🔗
    • We appreciate Quartz India in showcasing Pune's successful electric bus project. We rode it. We loved it.  - PluginIndia​​​​​

January 2020 Gossip : Mahindra electric scooter, KIA Motors, Mahindra eKUV 100, ​TVS electric scooter

  • TVS Motors has apparently launched an electric scooter! Read this news 🔗
    • TVS Motors! The company has been anti EV at every policy meeting over the last few years, but looking at the amount of positive press that the likes of Ather, Bajaj are generating with the launch of electric scooters like the Chetak, Ather 450X, they want some of that too.
      And thus they have literally plucked the TVS iQUBE out of thin air!
      The fact that they are selling the electric scooter in only 1 city and are only aiming for a production of 1000 units per month is absolutely shameful for such a large company       - PluginIndia​​​​

  • Mahindra to unveil electric scooter in first quarter of 2020 Read this gossip​ ​🔗
    • ​Hey Mahindra! You had the first mover advantage by acquiring Reva tech, processes, and people, back in 2010. 
      ​You also had the GenZee electric scooter, which you launched in USA as you said "India was not ready for eScooters".
      ​So what made you change your mind?       - PluginIndia​​​
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  • Why Kia Motors Isn’t Bringing Electric Vehicles To India Just Yet  Read this gossip 🔗
    • So the vice present of KIA motors India says EV's are expensive, there is no charging infrastructure and there is range anxiety. 
      He also categorically says -       "EV's are not an attractive proposition for customers today." 
      The government is installing 2000 Charge points this year. Apparently that is not enough for KIA India.
      We get it, your Seltos gas guzzler has sold around 45000 units and that brings in huge revenues for your company, so why would you even bother innovating, forget giving the Indian customer an EV option? Forget about the air quality of our cities.
      We could make another 'Kia hume bewakoof samajhte ho' joke, but why bother?
      What can you say against this sort of backward thinking?       - PluginIndia​​​

  • Mahindra eKUV100 could be the most affordable EV in India Read this news 🔗
    • Mahindra Electric is back! Let's hope they deliver the eKUV by June 2020. Although for a 130 km car, the price again seems artificially inflated all Mahindra Electric offerings. - PluginIndia​​​
      ​
  • What Is The Future Of Electric Cars In India? Read this standard media narrative 🔗
    • Mainstream media funded by BIG OIL see EV's as a big threat to their business. People charging at home or work wont give their money to these oil companies.
      Strangely you see a standard narrative by media companies when it comes to EV's. The always complain about the following
      • lack of charging infrastructure - when 2000+ charge points are being installed pan India by the government and most users charge at home and fleets charge at their businesses
      • grid capacity would be an issue - when research points that AC's have a larger grid impact that EV's will ever have
      • see very few electric cars are sold, so there is no demand - when not all ICE makers are on board. Let them all launch 2-3 options then see sales increase.
               More cynicism, scepticism against EV's by people who have never owned one. Nothing new here.

December 2019 Gossip : Lack of EV sales, MG Motors, Battery Prices,
​Electric Bus, Maruti Electric Car, Kia Seltos EV!

  • Delhi EV Policy To Offer Up To Rs 1.5 Lakh Subsidy On Vehicles, 100% On Charging Equipment. 
    Read this EV push by Mr Kejriwal ​🔗
    • ​Excellent move by the Delhi government. But we hope this support for EV's wont evaporate post elections. Also all benefits needs to go to directly to the consumer and not the manufacturer. We have seen many manufacturers, jack the price of EV's and pocket the subsidy and thus not benefiting anyone. - PluginIndia
      ​
  • Only 1,071 Electric Cars Sold In India Between April-October 2019.  Read this Gossip ​🔗
    • Oh the article says - "India is still a long way from warming up to electric cars and the sales for the period through April to October 2019, proves exactly that. And there were no concrete policies or steps taken on electrification in automotive industry as well"
      • Hey what about the total opposition from BIG ICE car manufacturers to sell electric vehicles?
      • What bout the lack of EV options from the largest car makers, who are happy to keep dumping crappy petrol automatics?
      • Hey, what about FAME 2 policy that supports electric vehicles? 
      • What bout BIG ICE makers launching electric cars with inflated prices?
                  Ofcourse mainstream media wont ask these questions. EV's are always painted in a negative light for some reason.
                  One wonders why that is? - PluginIndia
​
  • Kia Seltos Electric SUV With 400 Km Range Is Coming Soon To Rival MG ZS EV, Hyundai Kona EV. Read this Gossip ​🔗
    • KIA only has the Niro EV in global market. It has not formally announced any plans to bring that or any other EV to India. But given the massive launches of the Kona, MG EV, and Tata Nexon, looks like our media wants to get some quick and easy coverage with the hottest news in the automotive world right now -- the unstoppable rise of electric vehicles. To that we say, 'KIA hum logon ko bewakoof samajte ho?' - PluginIndia

  • Maruti Suzuki is likely to showcase an all-electric concept called the Futuro-E, at the Auto Expo. Read this Gossip ​🔗
    • In Maruti's world, EVs are only for the future. Of-course they will show an electric car at the Auto Expo - for quick and cheap media coverage. The reality is different. They will want to continue pushing outdated petrol hatchbacks like they have for the last 35 years, with 'advanced - high tech' features like automatic gear shifting, the same way junk food disguises its empty calories with tons of salt and sugar. - PluginIndia

  • Are hydrogen-powered fuel-cell electric vehicles the future? Are they better than all-electric vehicles? Do they hold more relevance in the Indian context in comparison to EVs?  Read this Pandering to BIG ICE! ​🔗
    • Ah, hydrogen-powered vehicles! The eternal excuse for BIG ICE automakers to delay selling electric vehicles. Never mind that it's way more convenient to charge electric vehicles at home where you have, you know, a socket, and never mind that electric vehicles have been sold in India for 20 years and have been proven to be reliable and in demand.
      The genius who wrote this article seems to driven a lot of H2-powered vehicles and       also seems to have fueled at hydrogen pumps too! He also seems certain that they are better than electric vehicles for India, damn decades of empirical evidence proving otherwise! - PluginIndia

  • Get ready to meet India’s First Pure Electric Internet SUV launched by MG Motors. Expected to be priced around
    Rs 20 lakh to     Rs 25 lakh, the Chinese-owned British carmaker said it will start ZS sales in five markets --
    Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru.     Watch the livestream event!  🔗

  • Battery prices, which were above $1,100 per kilowatt-hour in 2010, have fallen 87% in real terms to $156/kWh in 2019. By 2023, average prices will be close to $100/kWh.  Read the report  🔗

  • Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Electric On The Cards, Could Become The 2nd EV From The Brand.  Read this Gossip! ​🔗
    • WOWZER! Mainstream media already thinks Maruti have launched an Electric Car and are already dreaming of
      2nd Maruti Electric Car offering! Nice! :)  - PluginIndia
      ​
  • With electric buses, West Bengal makes an ambitious push for curbing city pollution. The government also plans to increase the number of charging stations in and around the city.  Read the article 🔗
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