Donald Trump made the United States pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement Friday, but in some recent good news, India has decided to produce only electric cars starting in 2030. The news was picked up on and tweeted about by Elon Musk yesterday, who recently resigned from his Trump administration advisory post in protest of the administration’s decision.
India commits to sell only electric cars by 2030. It is already the largest market for solar power. https://t.co/EGBNTPzmE5
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 1, 2017
Musk notes that India is already the largest market for solar power, meaning that that they have the wherewithal to power their electric cars when the transition takes place. India has taken a serious stand against carbon emissions, as indicated by the solar power and electric car initiatives.
This is good news, as India is the second most populous nation in the world, and is currently one of the leading contributors to levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases. The country seems to be doing all they can to undo this fact, even canceling a recent major coal project. India has recently opened the world’s largest solar power plant, located in Kamuthi in Tamil Nadu.
Piyush Goyal, India’s Energy Minister, recently said the country will help encourage and facilitate the electric car transition by offering subsidies for the next few years.
“After that, the cost of electric vehicles will start paying for themselves,” said Goyal.
For his part, Elon Musk has frequently talked about plans to establish a Tesla plant in India. This news has likely only made him more resolute in his plans, and India is ready to welcome him with open arms. Even the CEO of India’s lead electric car maker Mahindra, Anand Mahindra, says that he looks forward to the competition.
“The more, the merrier — and greener,” says Mahindra.
