The government of India and the University of California Davis’s Institute of Transportation Studies have partnered to establish a new India Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Research Center for research and innovation, supported by the Climateworks Foundation and the Hewlett Foundation.

Part of a binational ZEV Policy program, the collaboration aims to address policy, technology, and investment strategies for a ZEV transition, while identifying opportunities for India to emerge as a strategic leader in the global ZEV transition.

The ZEV Partnership provides a “unique opportunity for sub-national policy design as a lever for vehicle electrification, and importantly, harness the role of states as key laboratories of innovation in both the countries and the global south,” said officials.

India’s electrification story features parallels to the evolution of ZEV policy in California. The state has among the world’s most advanced ZEV policies and has an ambitious 100% ZEV mandate by 2035, signed by the Governor Gavin Newsom.

India has led with innovations in public procurement to increase EV adoption in public transportation, and electrification of last mile passenger and freight mobility in cities.

While the two regions have unique differences, such as India’s large portfolio of two and three-wheelers, they experience common challenges such as electrification of hard-to-abate segments including medium and heavy-duty trucks.