Seven EV projects chosen to boost innovation

New Delhi

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has selected seven major projects under its ‘MAHA-EV’ mission to boost electric vehicle (EV) innovation in India. These projects, called e-nodes, will be led by top institutes including IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT-BHU, IIT Kharagpur, NIT Surathkal, ARCI Hyderabad, and CSIR-CEERI Pilani. MAHA-EV, short for Mission for Advancement of High-impact Areas on Electric Vehicles, focuses on three main areas: tropical EV battery and cell technology, power electronics and drives, and EV charging systems. The selected projects aim to solve critical EV challenges and enhance India’s research strength in the sector. Each project will be completed by a team of academic institutions, R&D labs, and industry partners working together. Out of 227 proposals received, only seven were chosen. Two projects will work on battery development, three on power electronics, and two on charging infrastructure.

The Science and Technology Ministry stated that the mission is part of India’s larger goal to become self-reliant and a global leader in clean mobility. ANRF is also preparing to launch more programs to help small businesses and startups in deep-tech innovation. These include a new initiative to support small firms and startups in scaling advanced technologies, and a national platform that shares underused research tools across institutions. Another key move is the ‘AI-for-Science’ plan, which will use artificial intelligence to speed up discoveries in science by helping model problems in physics, chemistry, and biology. The MAHA-EV and other efforts reflect a larger push towards sustainable, smart, and inclusive innovation.