Thaindian News

Chennai, Oct 7 (IANS) With its software talent pool, India is in a better position to benefit from new vehicle technologies like electric vehicles, experts here said Friday.

Nearly 40 percent of new vehicles to be rolled out by 2035 will be powered by unconventional technology, they said.

“Vehicles are getting more electrical. Most of the vehicle sub-systems are powered by electrical energy… India with its software talent pool is advantageously placed to benefit from the expected boom,” V. Sumantran, executive vice chairman at Hinduja Automotive Ltd told reporters on the margins of the 16th Asia Pacific Automotive Conference.

“Vehicles powered by unconventional technologies are expected to exceed 40 percent of the new sales by 2035 given the pressures on oil demand and emission norms. The technologies could be plug-in and all electric, hybrid, diesel and others,” said Ted Robertson, president of International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies.

Both officials agreed that the auto makers have to look at standardisation of electric vehicle systems as it would bring down the cost.

“In North America, we are trying to standardise components like cells. There has to be a cooperative effort on the part of corporates and government, in development of unconventional technologies,” Robertson said.

Global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) will roll out 102 million vehicles by 2017 from the current 72 million units, Robertson said.

“The market for light vehicles in North America is picking up. Sales for 2011 will be around 8.4 million units, up from 7.6 million in 2010,” he said.

The Asian region will see a quantum jump in vehicle production by then mainly driven by India and China, he added.

According to Sumantran, frugal engineering, for which India is known, goes hand-in-hand with sustainable engineering.

“Breakthrough innovations occur due to constraints. India faces the constraints in access to materials and affordability,” he added.