Industry players on Monday hailed the government's move to enhance the scheme outlay of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (<keyword id="19912965" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fame" source="keywords">FAME</keyword>) <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> <keyword id="20527557" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="phase-ii" source="keywords">Phase II</keyword>, saying it will enhance infrastructure, foster widespread adoption and longevity of electric vehicles across the country. <br /><br />The Ministry of Heavy Industries announced that the scheme outlay of FAME India Phase II has been enhanced from Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 11,500 crore under FAME India scheme Phase II in order to give a further push to clean mobility in the country.<br /><br />The ministry also said that it is a "fund and term limited scheme", which means that the subsidies for demand incentive will be eligible for e-two-wheelers, e-three-wheelers, and e-four-wheelers sold till March 31, 2024 or till the time the funds are available, whichever is earlier.<br /><br />"We applaud the government's decision to enhance the FAME India Scheme Phase II outlay to Rs 11,500 crore. This timely boost in investment is a shot in the arm for the EV industry, accelerating its growth trajectory and paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future," VG Anil, CEO of EV battery manufacturer Arenq.<br /><br />The main objective of the scheme is to encourage faster adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles by way of offering upfront incentives on purchase of EV and also by establishing a necessary charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.<br /><br />"This Rs 1,500 crore boost sends a clear message: India is serious about electrifying its mobility landscape. Lower upfront costs for EVs, coupled with enhanced charging infrastructure, will incentivize riders to choose eco-friendly travel, accelerating the transition to a zero-emission future," Mayank Bindal, Founder and CEO, <keyword id="20078292" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="snap-e-cabs" source="keywords">Snap E Cabs</keyword>, told IANS.<br /><br />The number of EV charging stations that are operating in the country has gone up to 12,146 (as of February 2 this year), according to the government data.<br /><br />"The extension of FAME II until the end of March with a substantial outlay of 1,500 crore is a positive move," said <keyword id="20300065" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="avinash-sharma" source="keywords">Avinash Sharma</keyword>, Co-Founder of ElectricPe.<br /><br />"This not only strengthens consumer-side subsidies but also enhances infrastructure, fostering widespread adoption and longevity of electric vehicles across the country," Sharma added.<br /><br />SEE ALSO:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/wd-black-sn850x-ssd-review/articleshow/107557627.cms">WD Black SN850X SSD review – a reliable gaming SSD</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-open-review/articleshow/106961567.cms">OnePlus Open review – Feature-packed foldable in a premium design</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/vivo-x100-review-top-end-camera-centric-smartphone-with-sleek-design/articleshow/106539033.cms">Vivo X100 review – Top-end camera centric smartphone with sleek design</a><br />

Industry hails extension of FAME II scheme to bolster EV infra

How Snap board member and Hearst executive Joanna Coles made a series of bold moves - like bursting into a bathroom stall and tossing a man out of a cab - to reach the top

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6355174" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ford" source="Orion">Ford</keyword>'s electric pickup truck is finally shipping out to customers, and we got to drive it. </li><li>The F-150 Lightning drives great, packs tons of cool features, and feels remarkably familiar. </li></ul><p>One year after Ford <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-reveal-first-electric-pickup-truck-f150-lightning-2021-5">unveiled</a> the F-150 Lightning to the world, the revolutionary electric pickup truck is finally on the road. And remarkably, it lives up to the hype. </p><p>Relative to the century-old car industry, <keyword id="11897958" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="electric-vehicles" source="Orion">electric vehicles</keyword> are still very much in their infancy. And although billions of dollars are pouring into their development — and more people are buying them than ever before — <keyword id="6358835" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="electric-cars" source="Orion">electric cars</keyword> still make up a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/us-hybrid-electric-car-sales-hit-record-highs-2022-01-06/">paltry 3%</a> of overall sales.</p><p>Ford's zero-emission, battery-powered version of America's most popular truck is the vehicle that could finally launch EVs into the mainstream. </p><div type="image" title="The Ford F-150 Lightning." height="1667" width="2500" msid="91496488" hostid="261"></div><p>The Lightning just entered production, and I tested an early model for a couple of days at a media event this month. For me, the truck was a home run — but perhaps not for the reasons you'd expect. </p><p>Yes, it's packed with cutting-edge technology. It's quick, can drive hundreds of miles on a single charge, and has awesome features you can't get anywhere else, but what really makes the electric F-150 a winner is just how normal it feels. </p><h2><strong>The basics</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="The Ford F-150 Lightning." height="1670" width="2500" msid="91496489" hostid="261"></div><p>The 2022 F-150 Lightning is Ford's first serious electric pickup truck and the third such model to hit the scene in the modern EV era, following the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rivian-r1t-ev-electric-pickup-first-drive-impressions-photos-2021-9">Rivian R1T</a> and GMC Hummer EV. Ford kicked off production and deliveries of the truck earlier this year, beginning work on the roughly 200,000 refundable reservations it received. </p><p>The truck comes in four trim levels, ranging from just under $40,000 for a basic work vehicle (the Pro) up to $90,000 for a fully loaded luxury truck (the Platinum). XLT and Lariat models fall somewhere in the middle. </p><div type="image" title="The Ford F-150 Lightning." height="1667" width="2500" msid="91496490" hostid="261"></div><p>A larger battery pack that increases range from 230 miles to 320 miles (as estimated by the <a href="https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&amp;id=45318&amp;id=45317&amp;id=45316">Environmental Protection Agency</a>) is available for an extra cost on the Pro, XLT, and Lariat. The Platinum comes standard with the upgraded pack and is good for 300 miles. </p><p>Ford wants to sell <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-electric-f150-lightning-truck-production-doubled-amid-demand-2022-1">150,000 Lightnings per year</a> starting in 2023, and its familiar nature may be what seals that.  </p><h2><strong>An F-150, but make it electric</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="The Ford F-150 Lightning." height="1297" width="2500" msid="91496491" hostid="261"></div><p>Instead of dreaming up an outside-the-box model a lá the doorstop-shaped Tesla Cybertruck, Ford took its already popular F-150 and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-f-150-lightning-electric-went-from-zero-to-hero-2022-4">made it electric</a>, while taking care not to mess around too much with a winning formula. The result is a pickup that's extremely cool and forward-thinking, while still being familiar and accessible. </p><p>From the outside, the Lightning looks just like its gas-fueled twin, save for a closed-off grille (no engine cooling needed), sleek LED lights, and a charging port. Its bed is exactly the same, meaning owners can slap on accessories they already use on their combustion-engine F-150s.</p><div type="image" title="The Ford F-150 Lightning." height="1875" width="2500" msid="91496492" hostid="261"></div><p>Climb up into the Lightning's cab and you'll find an interior that's also largely identical.</p><p>The biggest outward difference is a larger touchscreen, which is 12 inches in the basic Pro and XLT models and a sprawling 15.5 inches in fancier trims. The cab is spacious, nicely laid out, and comfy — particularly in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-f150-electric-lightning-price-specs-pro-lariat-tour-2022-5">higher-end trucks</a>, which get plush leather seating and all sorts of other bells and whistles. </p><p>That giant display is intuitively designed, with important functions displayed prominently rather than obscured behind a labyrinth of submenus. Along the bottom of the screen, Ford graciously provides a permanent row of climate controls that flank a physical volume knob. In some other tech-heavy EVs, basic settings like heated seats could be a few clicks away. </p><div type="image" title="The Ford F-150 Lightning." height="1763" width="2351" msid="91496493" hostid="261"></div><p>Pulling away in the Lightning for the first time, I was surprised at just how normal it felt to drive. To shift into drive, you use a hefty, old-fashioned gear selector, not some newfangled switch or dial. Like all electric cars, the truck is quick and quiet. But it won't immediately, unexpectedly rip your face off with its acceleration like some EVs do.</p><p>Some electric models make up for the lack of an engine rumble by pumping in artificial, futuristic noises, but there's none of that in the Lightning. </p><div type="image" title="The Ford F-150 Lightning." height="1480" width="2500" msid="91496497" hostid="261"></div><p>Likewise, many EVs use a process called regenerative braking to automatically slow the vehicle the instant you lift off of the accelerator, thus capturing energy and feeding it to the battery pack. The Lightning does a bit of that, but it basically coasts freely just like everyone's accustomed to unless you specifically dial up the regen. </p><p>It all means that there isn't a huge learning curve to using the Lightning, particularly for anyone who has spent time in other Ford trucks. </p><h2><strong>Not your grandpa's F-150</strong></h2><div type="image" title="The Ford F-150 Lightning." height="3333" width="2500" msid="91496500" hostid="261"></div><p>Contrary to how familiar it feels, the F-150 Lightning is far from ordinary once you dig a little deeper. On top of all the standard F-150 traits, the Lightning offers cool capabilities and unique features that you simply can't get on a gas truck. </p><p>There's the giant frunk, for example — the singular feature that made a focus group of skeptical Texan truck owners <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-ceo-jim-farley-gambled-mustang-f-150-lightning-electric-vehicles-2022-4">lose their minds</a> back when the Lightning was in its early stages of development. Having experienced the frunk firsthand, I can see why.</p><div type="image" title="The Ford F-150 Lightning." height="1875" width="2500" msid="91496501" hostid="261"></div><p>It's big enough to gobble up four or five stuffed backpacks or duffels, and could come in handy for anything you want to keep in your truck permanently or shield from the elements. </p><div type="image" title="The Ford F-150 Lightning." height="1692" width="2500" msid="91496503" hostid="261"></div><p>All Lightnings have all-wheel drive, as well as two motors that produce a whopping 775 pound-feet of torque and up to 580 horsepower combined. So although neck-snapping acceleration isn't necessarily what the Lightning is all about, it'll happily deliver exactly that if you want it to. Switch the Lightning into Sport mode and stomp the throttle, and the truck surges down the road with a staggering quickness antithetical to its large size.</p><p>Even after spending hours in the Lightning, driving something that felt so big yet accelerated so effortlessly never stopped feeling weird. Moreover, the Lightning accomplishes all of this with extraordinary quietude; surprisingly, I didn't hear much road or wind noise until about 70 mph. </p><div type="image" title="[EMBARGO 5/11/22 6 AM DNP] The F-150 Lightning Lariat." height="1235" width="2500" msid="91496504" hostid="261"></div><p>Another highlight of the Lightning: It has a ton of power outlets and can act like a giant mobile generator — without all the gasoline, noise, and fumes. I witnessed the Lightning share its power with a mobile espresso bar, an extensive tailgating setup, and a Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV, which was pretty neat. </p><p>Can the Lightning do truck stuff? Sure it can. Ford says it can tow up to 10,000 pounds or carry a payload of up to 2,235 pounds. And since driving range is such a source of anxiety for new EV owners, the truck uses onboard scales to adjust range estimates based on how much one is towing or hauling. A 1,250-pound payload of mulch knocked the Lightning's range by roughly 80 miles in my experience.</p><div type="image" title="The Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat." height="1875" width="2500" msid="91496506" hostid="261"></div><h2><strong>A potential game changer</strong></h2><p>There's no doubt that the F-150 Lightning will have to contend with the same mountain of challenges the rest of the EV space faces. </p><div type="image" title="The Ford F-150 Lightning." height="1667" width="2500" msid="91496508" hostid="261"></div><p>Despite all the hype around them, most people don't know the first thing about electric cars. Charging infrastructure in the US is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-car-charging-reliability-broken-stations-ev-2022-5">lacking</a>, particularly when you get away from the coasts. And the Lightning is out of reach for a lot of people, starting at around $53,000 for the cheapest model aimed at regular consumers — or roughly $72,500 for those who desire the extended-range battery pack. </p><p>But Ford clearly put a huge amount of thought into every element of this truck. And between its familiar feel, innovative features, tremendous capability, and uniquely electric driving experience, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-is-already-working-on-another-electric-pickup-truck-2022-4">Lightning</a> has the potential to change a lot of minds — and perhaps even the landscape of our roads.</p><p><em>Are you an F-150 Lightning owner or reservation holder with a story to share? Contact this reporter at tlevin@insider.com</em></p>

I drove Ford’s F-150 Lightning. The revolutionary electric truck’s biggest superpower is how normal it feels.

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/55956368.cms" /> As <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Cyclone+Vardah&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Cyclone Vardah</a> hit <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Chennai&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Chennai</a>, major IT players asked their employees to work from home. The whole city went under shutdown mode. Factories were mostly shut and there were few factories that opened early, but the workers to leave early.<br />
<br />
"More than 90% of IT companies in the city were not working. Even those who worked from home had difficulty as mobile and internet connectivity was poor," Nasscom VP K Purushothaman told TOI.<br />
<br />
Banks shut branches midday as the cyclone picked up speed. With mobile connectivity being poor and patchy, consumers found it difficult to pay via e-wallets.<br />
<br /> The cyclone left the whole transportation in disarray. While 31 long-distance trains were cancelled, suburban services were suspended from 1pm and many more trains were stranded at locations outside <keyword id="12864" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chennai">Chennai</keyword>.<br />
<br /> Sixteen trains were held up in the Jolarpettai-Chennai Central section and four trains in the Villupuram-Chennai Egmore section. Platforms on <keyword id="400523" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chennai-Beach">Chennai Beach</keyword> and Central stations were badly damaged. Overhead cables snapped on the Chennai-Arakkonam sector, trees fell on the track at Perambur, Egmore and Chetpet, which delayed and later led to the suspension of services.<br />
<br />
Former chief minister <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=J.+Jayalalithaa&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">J. </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=J.+Jayalalithaa&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Jayalalithaa</a>’s walfare project- <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Amma+canteens+&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Amma canteens</a> did all that it could. They ensured that the city didn’t faced the cyclone with an emplty stomach. <keyword id="1676377" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amma-canteens">Amma canteens</keyword>, despite the category 5 storm, continued to serve food free of cost, as it has since the state went into mourning after Jayalalithaa's demise. When the city shut down on December 6 as a mark of respect to Jayalalithaa, of all the government's services, only the Amma canteens served up hot food to residents, especially homeless citizens. Best of all was that the needy did not even have to pay the nominal price that the canteens charge. Centralised canteens distribute food to most of the outlets. So the supply chain remained relatively unaffected at most of the 407 canteens in the city. In canteens not covered by the centralised network, the women who run them ensured that not one customer returned home on an empty stomach. Around 2 pm, after strong<br />
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Passengers at Chennai Central were stranded without electricity as also cab and auto services, though food was available in the umpteen stalls. At around 1pm, bus services stopped and auto drivers began to charge a premium of at least Rs 100 above the meter rates. Suburban commuters were stranded at different stations en route. gusts of wind ravaged the area around the canteen, the women invited customers to grab plates of piping hot food.<br />
<br />


This is what IT companies did when Chennai was completely shut due to Cyclone Vardah

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/546b46cd6da8118a790e3d16-1200-924/new-yorkers-outside-during-polar-vortex.jpg" border="0" alt="new yorkers outside during polar vortex"><p class="source"><span>Getty Images/Andrew Burton</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Good morning! We hope you are enjoying the winter-like conditions across much of the US on this Tuesday morning. Via Dave Lutz at JonesTrading, here's a quick guide to what traders are talking about this morning. </p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Good Morning! US Futures are starting mixed, as the Russell jumps 30bp, while S&amp;P and NDX are flat. Overseas markets are enjoying tailwinds, with Abe calling snap election and delaying the tax hike (well expected), and dovish hopes continuing from ECB on the back of Draghi comments. Germany's ZEW bounced back sharply helping DAX jump 1.2% in average volume as Materials, Industrials and Banks perform well in Europe. Over in Asia, Russia's MICEX continues to climb as Oil stabilizes, while the Nikkei surges 2% on hopes of additional stimulus measures from the new Abe government. The HK link remains a "Sell the News" in light volume, with China off 70bp as China new home prices fell in virtually every city surveyed. The Sensex finally took a breather from it's recent run, while Staples and Tech helped propel the KOSPI up 1% as Samsung jumped post-analyst day. Emerging Asia is had a strong overnight, with Malaysia and Thailand rallying behind Indonesia's much anticipated subsidized fuel price hike overnight - while Aussie lost small, weighed down by the Miners.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">The US 10YY is flat this AM, with most of the Sovereign attention on PIIGS spreads post-Draghi's speech yesterday. BoE Gov. Mark Carney flagged up "huge disinflationary forces," a remark which was taken as a strong hint that record-low U.K. interest rates aren't going up anytime soon - The DXY is retreating into the Fed's minutes <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_423328454"><span class="aQJ">tomorrow</span></span> - giving commodities a nice tailwind this AM. The Standout winner is Gold - climbing 1.2% to the highest in two weeks (speculation the ECB may purchase assets including bullion to counter low inflation / SNB Vote / Crowded Short). Growth commodities remain under pressure, with Copper off 1% and WTI giving up pre-market gains (was up 1%) into Oil Inventories and Expiry. Scheduled Catalysts today include Total Net TIC Flows At 9, NAHB Housing Market Index and Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales at 10 - Fed's Kocherlakota Speaks on Monetary Policy at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_423328455"><span class="aQJ">1:30</span></span>, and After the close we get API inventories for Crude. The Spot VIX contract expires today, and at some point we may have the US Senate voting on Keystone tonight.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Some trades I'm watching today - ITB (Builders) held key support again yesterday ($25), but HD is under pressure early on #s ahead of NAHB data / Watch the Gold Miners - someone has been rolling from GDX/GDXJ into the levered NUGT, which has surged 25% the last 2 sessions / With the Russell Outperforming, I'm watching to see if today is a "Good Harbor" day, as they are currently UW Smallcaps / With Oil breaking down into Expiry, imagine more headwinds for HYG as the HY Energy Credits continue to be sold / Keystone headlines may impact TRP, ENB, SU, IMO, CVE, CNQ, CNRL and refiners - but a Obama Veto looms large / Watch the levered Gun&amp;Ammo plays (RGR, SWHC, ATK, DKS, CAB, TASR) with Ferguson headlines heating up into the Jury decision.  </p>

You Searched For "snap e cabs" and got 5 results

Industry hails extension of FAME II scheme to bolster EV infra

IANS

How Snap board member and Hearst executive Joanna Coles made a series of bold moves - like bursting into a bathroom stall and tossing a man out of a cab - to reach the top

Anna Mazarakis,Alyson Shontell

I drove Ford’s F-150 Lightning. The revolutionary electric truck’s biggest superpower is how normal it feels.

Tim Levin

This is what IT companies did when Chennai was completely shut due to Cyclone Vardah

BI India Bureau

What Are Traders Chatting About This Morning? Oil, Housing, Japan...

Myles Udland