India's EV battery challenge to China hampered by lithium, copper crunch

India has only a fraction of the raw materials needed to satisfy domestic demand for lithium-ion batteries - forecast by Crisil to grow 100 fold by 2030 - let alone produce on a global scale

As the world tries to wean itself off dependence on China for crucial battery materials, India is taking bold steps to position itself as an alternative in the electric vehicle supply chain. 

The government has unveiled incentives of at least $3.4 billion to expedite its lagging adoption of EVs as Prime Minister Narendra Modi vows to reach net zero by 2070. The idea is that manufacturing the costliest component — batteries — locally will make the end product more affordable for the mass market and set the country up as a potential exporter, tapping into surging global demand. 

The initiatives