Dr. Hanif Qureshi’s visit to IIT Madras marks a significant step in India’s journey towards sustainable mobility

PTNews: On March 24, 2025, IIT Madras launched the ‘Zero e-Mission’ initiative, featuring nine E-Mobility programs. These include labs for battery charging and engineering, an analytics center for electric commercial vehicles, a truck driving simulator, educational programs like Web-enabled M.Tech in E-Mobility, and safety reports for battery electric trucks.

Dr. Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary, the Ministry of Heavy Industries visited IIT Madras as the Chief Guest for the launch of nine transformative E-Mobility initiatives under the ‘Zero e-Mission’ banner. This event, held at the IIT Madras campus, was a collaborative effort involving the Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras, and key partners including Dr. Preeti Banzal from the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor, Mr. Prashant K Banerjee from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Prof. Kamakoti Veezhinathan (Director, IIT Madras), and Prof. Manu Santham (Dean, ICSR, IIT Madras).

The initiatives launched are comprehensive, covering education, research, policy, outreach, and safety, with a focus on strong industry collaborations to speed up EV transition in India. Key components include:

Battery Charging Infrastructure & Battery Engineering Labs: These state-of-the-art facilities focus on advancing research in EV battery technology, including performance analysis, optimization, and charging solutions like extreme fast charging and wireless systems.

Electric Commercial Vehicles Analytics Centre (ECVAC) & Battery Electric Truck Driving Simulator (BETDS): These aim to empower fleet operators with analytics and practical driver training, addressing the electrification of commercial vehicles, which Dr. Qureshi has noted as a challenging area due to their significant pollution contribution.

Web-enabled M.Tech in E-Mobility (WEMEM) & Certificate Program on E-Mobility (CPoEM): These educational programs, designed for working professionals, bridge the gap between academia and industry, offering flexible, industry-oriented courses to prepare future-ready professionals.

Safety & Risk Analysis Reports: A technical report on ‘Safe Electrification of Battery Electric Trucks for Inflammable and Hazardous Goods Transportation’ was unveiled, providing insights into battery chemistries, fire hazards, and grid integration, ensuring secure EV deployment.

Dr. Qureshi expressed confidence in IIT Madras’s role, stating as such structured initiatives will help with rapid electrification of road transport. IIT-M’s approach will help in faster implementation of the strategic and policy decisions that the industry and GoI will take over the years in e-mobility.

Dr. Qureshi’s leadership has been pivotal in shaping India’s EV landscape. He has been actively involved in promoting policies that enhance EV adoption and manufacturing. For instance, he has overseen the implementation of the FAME II scheme, which, with a budget of Rs. 10,000 crore, allocated significant funds for demand incentives to create a market for EVs. Additionally, the Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024, with an outlay of Rs. 500 crore for four months, focuses on electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers, particularly for commercial use, to boost green mobility.

These initiatives and proactive MHI policy leadership are expected to significantly contribute to India’s zero-emission goals. The collaboration with IIT Madras, particularly through labs and educational programs, is poised to foster innovation and skill development, addressing critical gaps in EV technology and workforce readiness. His vision aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for a cleaner, greener India.