Chinese firm BYD Auto to set up EV plant in Telangana.

Chinese major BYD Auto Industries Company Ltd., a major global player in the electric vehicles (EV) segment, has come up with a proposal to set up a manufacturing unit for EVs, including buses, cars, autos and trucks.

Representatives of BYD (meaning Beyond Your Dreams) had called on Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao with their proposal to set up a unit in the State. BYD General Manager Liu Xueliang, Executive Director Zhang Jie and others participated in the meeting.

Assuring government support for the proposed project, Rao expressed his willingness to encourage the use of EVs in Hyderabad, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s office.

He said: “We need to encourage 100 per cent EV usage to make Hyderabad pollution-free. EV adoption will be taken up in phases, and GHMC and TSRTC as well as private institutions will be encouraged to deploy them.”

Rao further announced that Telangana will place an order for 500 vehicles in the first phase. Referring to the manufacturing unit, he said there is huge potential in the country for electric vehicles.

The Chief Minister had a brief ride in the electric bus designed and developed by BYD and was impressed with the quality of buses. According to BYD representative, a single charge takes through 300-400 km and it takes about three hours to fully charge the battery.

HBL