On Energizing India, we speak with key protagonists in the energy transition and clean mobility sectors to uncover what works, what often doesn’t, and to hear from those who have faced the toughest challenges. While we frequently discuss topics like lithium, hydrogen, and electric mobility, there is another part of the energy transition sector that quietly contributes to making the world a better place to live, even if it doesn’t grab the headlines or generate widespread excitement.

In today’s episode, we’ve decided to shine a spotlight on the role of biofuels—such as ethanol-enriched gasoline, 100% biodiesel, and the increasingly promising sustainable aviation fuel. These innovations hold the potential to alleviate some of the guilt associated with frequent travel.

Joining us is Ranjit Kulkarni, Vice President and General Manager of Honeyworld’s Energy and Sustainable Solutions portfolio. He leads the company’s operations in India and brings valuable insights into this crucial segment of the energy transition.

In this episode, we welcome one of the key protagonists for both electric mobility and hydrogen energy in India: Amitabh Kant. A distinguished bureaucrat and policymaker, he is recognized for his substantial contributions to the development of the Indian economy. An alumnus of St. Stephen's College and JNU, he joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1980.

Mr. Kant is renowned for his role in spearheading initiatives that have significantly impacted the economy, including Startup India, Make in India, and the highly successful Incredible India campaign, which repositioned the country as a global tourism destination. He is also credited with coining the slogan “Kerala: God’s Own Country” during his tenure in the state.

When the Planning Commission was dissolved in 2015, Kant was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the newly created NITI Aayog, the apex public policy think tank responsible for catalyzing India's economic development.

As India's Sherpa at the G20 in 2023, under his leadership, 87 outcomes were achieved, and 118 documents were adopted—an impressive increase from past years. His vision and leadership have firmly established him as a pivotal figure in shaping India’s policy landscape in the 21st century.

In this episode, we explore India's efforts toward energy transition and understand how the country can become a global leader in clean mobility and hydrogen generation.

India's population is projected to surpass China's in both overall numbers and population density in the coming years. This growth is particularly concentrated in urban areas, which are facing significant challenges. Traffic congestion, increased road stress, road rage, and heightened demand for utilities and essential services are adversely affecting the quality of life for residents. To improve the lived experience of citizens, it is crucial to address the challenges of urban mobility. In this episode we have one of such innovative companies that are making strides in the urban mobility space – we met with Pratik Gupta , CEO of Gensol EV or Storm Motors who spoke about urban mobility.  

In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed the government's commitment to establishing India as a global leader in green hydrogen through the National Green Hydrogen Mission. In just a year and a half, this mission has placed the hydrogen molecule at the forefront of discussions among energy developers, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders.

The introduction of production-linked incentives, along with significant capital investment for electrolyzer manufacturers and developers of green hydrogen and green ammonia, has bolstered confidence in India’s ability to achieve its hydrogen production goals. However, there is ongoing concern among developers about the demand and market uptake for their products.

Today, we are pleased to welcome Shardul Kulkarni, Managing Director and CEO of Deesha Power. With 20 years of experience in the power and renewable energy sectors, Shardul has been instrumental in driving over $1 billion in energy transition investments across Southeast Asia and Western Africa.

Within the Indian green hydrogen community, Shardul is affectionately known as the "hydrogen wala," a passionate advocate for green hydrogen, dedicated to raising awareness and educating others about the vast potential of this transformative energy source.

The Indian EV and energy transition sector has been in flux for the last three years. If you looked at it just three years ago, there were only a few thousand vehicles on the road.

Since then, we've seen exponential growth: today, there are hundreds of thousands of electric two-wheelers, many thousands of three-wheelers, and thousands of new electric buses being added to the roads every year. Tata alone is targeting 150,000 electric cars this year.

Today on the show, we talk to Uday Narang, CEO of Omega Seki Mobility, one of the major players in the Indian electric vehicle sector. Omega Seki Mobility is transforming both public and goods transportation, not just in India but also around the world. They have launched many industry-first products and are consistently among the top three electric three-wheelers sold in the country. 

India has 326 million registered vehicles on the road in 2024. Seventy-five percent of these are two-wheelers, including scooters and motorcycles, down from 80% just four years ago. Approximately 12% of these are trucks and buses, with the vast majority being trucks, as only 2% of registered vehicles in India are buses.

The fastest way to clean the air in Indian cities is to convert public transportation, including intra-city and intercity buses, to electric. The government has made significant progress in this area over the last four years, converting over 5,000 buses a year in Indian cities to electric.

Initially, Chinese buses played a key role in this transition, but over the last four years, Indian entrepreneurs have invested boldly to implement new technology made in India for electrification and clean mobility in Indian cities.

Today, we are speaking with one such company, an Indian gem: Eka Mobility. We welcome to the programme Sudhir Chairman, founder and CEO of EKA Pinnacle Industries .

In this episode, Vijay Gokhale, former Indian Foreign Secretary, delves into the complexities of global energy transitions and geopolitics. He discusses China’s rapid technological advancements, strategic geopolitical maneuvers, and the global implications of energy resource control. Gokhale also provides insights into India’s strategic positioning, technological growth, and the intricate balance of international relations. Join us for an engaging discussion on the challenges and opportunities shaping the 21st-century geopolitical landscape.

In this episode, we talk to some of the biggest EV Charger OEMs in India, discussing the various challenges in the EV charging space and how Indian charger companies can dominate the global competition. We feature Arth PATEL, Founder & CEO of Tirex Chargers, and Amit KEKARE, Head of E-Mobility at Siemens, along with Ravin MIRCHANDANI, Chief Dream Merchant at Quench EV Chargers and the host of the Energizing India Podcast. This is a fun one!

In 2024, hydrogen is a darling of the energy sector. It represents hope for a greener tomorrow and the opportunity to democratize the energy generation industry, allowing any country to generate energy rather than being subject to the tyranny of the hydrocarbon molecule. Yet, it is underrepresented by women at the senior level and all levels of management globally. The Women Leaders in Hydrogen - India is a platform built to bring women in the industry together as a community to solve some of the critical commercial and scientific hurdles faced by the industry in India. With a mission to empower and inspire, in this episode, we are joined by our Co-Chairs: Dr. Anuradda Ganesh, Bhumika Singh, Kalpana Gupta, and Suruchi Rao.

Harshavardhana Gourineni is an accomplished business leader who has made significant contributions to the growth and expansion of Amara Raja Energy and Mobility Limited. Harshavardhana has worked in various roles and industries, gaining a wide range of experience and expertise. After living in the US for 25 years, Harsha moved to India and was appointed as Executive Director of Amara Raja. In this role, he is responsible for leading the automotive and industrial business, which has a turnover of over $1 billion in revenue.

In this episode, we explore what lies ahead for lead-acid batteries, what could be the relevant use cases for them once replaced with lithium, and how we are going to recycle them sustainably. Check out the episode today!