In a significant push toward accelerating electric mobility in India, H. D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, on Monday launched the Light Electric-Vehicle Acceleration Forum (LEAF).
This industry-led initiative aims to strengthen India’s EV charging ecosystem, particularly for light electric vehicles (LEVs) such as electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers, which dominate the country’s EV adoption landscape.
With India targeting ambitious clean mobility goals and aiming to reduce carbon emissions, the launch of LEAF marks an important step toward building a robust, scalable, and efficient EV infrastructure network.
The Light Electric-Vehicle Acceleration Forum (LEAF) has been established as a neutral platform that brings together key stakeholders across the EV ecosystem, including:
The forum is designed to foster collaboration between industry players, government bodies, and regulatory authorities.
The primary goals of LEAF include:
In a post on X, the minister said the initiative would help accelerate the growth of light electric mobility and strengthen the EV ecosystem through improved interoperability, reliability and expanded charging infrastructure.
He further emphasised that the initiative aligns with India’s broader vision of:
Kumaraswamy highlighted the importance of strong collaboration between the government and industry players to create:
The forum aims to address major challenges in India’s EV ecosystem by:
A major focus of LEAF is to improve interoperability, which means:
This will reduce fragmentation and improve convenience for EV owners.
The initiative also aims to:
As part of the initiative, the Light Electric Combined Charging System (LECCS) is being developed.
The standard has been approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards and aims to:
This will help eliminate compatibility issues and streamline EV charging infrastructure nationwide.
The forum has already onboarded over 20 organisations from across the EV ecosystem, including:
The membership base is expected to grow further in the coming months.
Industry experts have highlighted critical issues that LEAF aims to solve:
Addressing these challenges will be essential for scaling EV adoption in India.
India is witnessing rapid growth in electric mobility, especially in:
These segments account for a major share of EV sales due to affordability and urban mobility needs.
The initiative aligns with India’s commitments to:
A strong EV ecosystem can:
The launch of the Light Electric-Vehicle Acceleration Forum (LEAF) marks a crucial milestone in India’s electric mobility journey. By bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and technology providers, the initiative aims to build a unified and efficient EV charging infrastructure.
With a focus on interoperability, standardisation, and scalability, LEAF has the potential to address key bottlenecks in the current system and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles across the country.
As India moves toward a cleaner and more sustainable future, initiatives like LEAF will play a pivotal role in shaping the next phase of mobility transformation.