Electric vehicles / E-mobility

From clunky prototypes to a thriving EV ecosystem, Auroville’s journey mirrors India’s evolving electric vehicle landscape – driven by innovation, resilience, and a vision for sustainable transport.

An article in the newspaper Business Line of 25 March mentions that the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is planning to develop a cutting-edge Sustainability Campus on a 100 acre site given to it by Auroville, with 20 acres dedicated to the Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET).

Prof. Chetan S. Solanki, IIT Bombay and Brand Ambassador of Solar Energy Government of MP, also referred to as Solar Man of India or Solar Gandhi by the press, who has undertaken a world tour of 11 years in a solar bus to create a publics awareness movement called Energy Swaraj Yatra (2020-2030) to spread the message of solar energy as it relates to climate change, visited Auroville on April 14 and 15 and interacted with many Aurovilians.

The steady increase in private car ownership in Auroville, as well as the hike in outside cars and autos circulating daily within the community, gives rise to the question: Is Auroville falling well behind ‘best practice’ examples of transport that are thriving in other parts of the world?

Architect David Nightingale has been developing a plan for Auroville’s Cultural Zone, which has led him to more broadly consider Auroville’s urban planning and mobility issues.

The Integrated Transport Service (ITS) was launched recently. A new office with several charging points outside – and many electric scooters parked inside – has been built opposite the Solar Kitchen.

Kinisi celebrates its 1st anniversary. Kinisi is a unit under CSR, dedicated to bringing sustainable mobility to Auroville. Kinisi started officially on March 13, 2017, when it obtained a desk in a shared office at CSR (Center for Scientific Research) as well as a small workshop space downstairs.

Chandresh, one of the founders of the Electric Vehicle Service group, talks about Auroville’s mobility issues, the failed and successful attempts to move Auroville towards smart mobility, and the future prospects.