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The Indian cement industry is on track to reach 5.09 billion tonnes by 2028-29, driven by robust government investment in infrastructure. According to an IANS report originally attributed to Infomerics Ratings, this marks a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9 per cent between 2024 and 2029. In 2022-23, the industry’s market size stood at 3.82 billion tonnes, with a total installed capacity of 622 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in FY24 and production at 427 million tonnes. Notably, India contributes over 8 per cent to the world’s total installed cement capacity, highlighting its importance in the global market. Despite this, India’s per capita cement consumption is 260 kg—significantly below the global average of 540 kg—indicating substantial room for growth. Globally, the cement market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.3 per cent from 2024 to 2032. The sector’s expansion is fuelled by ambitious government initiatives, including an allocation of ₹11.11 lakh crore for infrastructure in FY25 and housing schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The construction sector consumes 55 per cent of cement production, while public infrastructure projects account for the remainder. The industry also plays a critical role in employment, providing direct jobs to over one million people and creating downstream opportunities for about 20,000 individuals per million tonnes of cement produced. Private players dominate the sector, controlling 98 per cent of production capacity, while public sector units hold a mere 2 per cent. Domestic production meets almost all demand, with imports accounting for just 0.2 per cent of total production in FY23. However, exports have declined recently due to reduced global demand and rising competition. India currently has 341 cement manufacturing facilities, including 159 integrated large cement plants, 120 grinding units, and 62 mini cement plants. Cement production has seen steady growth, with a 7.1 per cent increase in September 2024 and a cumulative growth of 1.6 per cent between April and September of FY25, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This growth aligns with India’s overall industrial performance, which saw a 2 per cent rise in core industries in September, led by cement, steel, coal, and fertilisers. As India invests heavily in infrastructure and housing, the cement industry is set to play a pivotal role in supporting the nation’s economic and developmental goals. (with IANS inputs)

India's cement industry expected to grow to 5.09 billion tonnes by 2028-29 amid infrastructure push: Report

<ul><li>The <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Economic-Survey" source="keywords">Economic Survey</keyword> 2023-24 was tabled by the <keyword id="19956758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Finance Minister" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Finance Minister">Finance Minister</keyword> in the Lok Sabha.</li><li>The report was tabled a day before FM Nirmala Sitharaman is slated to present the budget.</li><li>The report has highlighted the need for private investments in infrastructure.</li></ul>Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday tabled the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2024-live-news-top-things-every-indian-should-know-about-the-economic-survey-2023-24/articleshow/111918064.cms">Economic Survey</a> 2023-2024 in the Lok Sabha, a day ahead of the Budget being tabled. According to the report, India’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 8.2% in FY24. The report has revealed that large-scale infrastructure projects in the country have largely been funded by <keyword id="22504538" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-sector-investment" source="keywords">public sector investment</keyword> in recent years. The government has highlighted a need for private sector investment in infrastructure building. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111923191" title="Economic Survey 2024 – industries grow by 9.5%, fueling economic growth to 8.2%" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> In the five years between 2019 and 2023, the central and state Governments contributed 49% and 29% of the total investments in infrastructure, while, the private sector's contribution was just 22%. “There is significant scope for boosting India’s <keyword id="20018651" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="private-investment" source="keywords">private investment</keyword>, especially in the context of investment requirements facing the Indian economy in the areas of infrastructure, green transition, etc,” as per the Economic Survey 2024. <h2>National highways triple, railways receive a boost</h2>In the last decade, the pace of construction of national highways has reportedly tripled. According to the Economic Survey 2024, the pace of construction of national highways has increased from 11.7 km per day in FY14 to around 34 km per day by FY24. The capital expenditure in railways has increased by 77% in the last five years, with significant investments directed at the construction of new lines, gauge conversion and doubling. The passenger handling capacity at airports in the country has increased by 62 million passengers per annum in FY24 with new terminal buildings being opened at 21 airports. There is now a need to add more airports and expand the existing airports. The clean energy sector in India saw new investment of ₹8.5 lakh crore between 2014 and 2023. <h2>Metro and rapid train connectivity to soon double</h2>At present, 945 km of metro rail or RRTS lines are operational, out of which 86 km was added in FY24. This is set to soon double as 993 km of metro and RRTS lines are under construction in 27 cities across the country. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2024-live-news-top-things-every-indian-should-know-about-the-economic-survey-2023-24/articleshow/111918064.cms">Economic Survey highlights: Top 10 things every Indian should know from the Economic Survey 2023-24</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/economic-survey-2024-industries-grow-by-9-5-fueling-economic-growth-to-8-2/articleshow/111923191.cms">Economic Survey 2024 – industries grow by 9.5%, fueling economic growth to 8.2%</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/article/economic-survey-2023-2024-highlights-emerging-job-trends-in-ai-cybersecurity-3d-printing-and-web-development/articleshow/111923746.cms">Economic Survey 2023-2024 highlights emerging job trends in AI, Cybersecurity, 3D Printing and Web Development</a>

Economic Survey highlights public sector investment's role in driving infra growth; Underlines need for private sector to step up

In FY25, Punjab is set to experience financial challenges as its capital-to-revenue expenditure ratio is the lowest among all states, standing at just 6.2%, highlighted a research report by the <keyword id="19938957" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Stock-Exchange" source="keywords">National Stock Exchange</keyword> (NSE). This means that for every rupee Punjab spends, a very small portion is being allocated towards capital expenditure, which is crucial for long-term <keyword id="19971350" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="infrastructure-development" source="keywords">infrastructure development</keyword>. In contrast, the research showed that the states like Gujarat lead the way with a much higher ratio of 36.2%, signaling a stronger focus on capital spending that can drive future growth. "The capital-to-revenue expenditure ratio, a measure of expenditure quality, is set at 20.7 % for FY25BE, declining from 21.2 % in FY24RE. Punjab has the lowest ratio at 6.2 %, while Gujarat leads at 36.2 %" said the report. The report also highlighted that the overall, capital expenditure by Indian states is expected to moderate in FY25 after three years of strong growth. It stated that the total capital spending for the fiscal year is estimated to increase by just 6.5 % to Rs 6.5 lakh crore. This is a notable slowdown compared to the sharp 39.3 % rise in FY24, which was marked by a post-pandemic push to boost infrastructure and public projects. The capital-to-revenue expenditure ratio, a key indicator of the quality of spending, is also set to decline slightly to 20.7 %in FY25 from 21.2 %in FY24, reflecting a more cautious approach by states. At the same time, revenue expenditure, which covers recurring costs like salaries, subsidies, and interest payments, is expected to grow by 8.9 % to Rs 44.2 lakh crore. This is the slowest growth in the last four years, indicating tighter control over everyday spending. "<keyword id="23614983" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="committed-expenditure" source="keywords">Committed expenditure</keyword> (interest payments and pensions), on the other hand, remains high, comprising about 24 % of total revenue expenditure and consuming nearly a quarter of revenue receipts" the report added. Despite this, the report noted that a large portion of revenue expenditure remains committed to non-discretionary costs. Interest payments and pensions alone account for about 24 % of total revenue expenditure and consume nearly a quarter of the revenue receipts, limiting states' flexibility in spending. Some states are more burdened than others by this committed expenditure. Punjab, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu have earmarked over 35 %of their revenue receipts for these fixed costs in FY25, putting additional pressure on their finances. This leaves less room for discretionary spending and makes it harder for these states to invest in development and growth-oriented projects.

Punjab's capital expenditure lowest in FY25 at 6.2% vs highest of Gujarat at 36.2%: NSE

The ongoing issue involving Supreme Infrastructure India Limited (<keyword id="23294280" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SIIL" source="keywords">SIIL</keyword>) and the State Bank of India (<keyword id="19898108" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="SBI" source="keywords">SBI</keyword>) has become a focal point in India’s financial and political landscape. It concerns SIIL’s default on significant loans and SBI’s decision to convert this debt into equity, raising concerns about the precedent it may set for future debt resolutions in India. <h2>SIIL's financial troubles</h2>SIIL, a construction and infrastructure company, was once engaged in large-scale projects such as roads and bridges across India. Over the years, however, the company faced severe financial troubles due to project delays and insufficient revenues. As SIIL’s cash flow problems worsened, it struggled to repay its loans, leading to the company’s default. The State Bank of India (SBI), being SIIL’s largest lender, found itself at the centre of this financial turmoil, as SIIL declared bankruptcy. In response, SBI decided to take an unusual step to recover its dues. <h2>SBI's debt-to-equity conversion decision</h2>In a surprising move, SBI converted its outstanding debt into equity in SIIL. This means that instead of pursuing traditional recovery methods or selling off assets, SBI has now become an equity stakeholder in SIIL, shifting from being its primary lender to part-owner. The controversial decision also involved other lenders who agreed to take a 93.45% “haircut” on the debt, which indicates that they are recovering only a fraction of the original loans extended to SIIL. <h2>Criticism and concerns</h2>The decision has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from political circles. <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword> leader Jairam Ramesh, through a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), criticised SBI’s approach and raised several concerns. He highlighted that SBI’s decision to become an equity stakeholder in a company that declared bankruptcy could set a "dangerous precedent in India’s <keyword id="20575563" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="corporate-debt" source="keywords">corporate debt</keyword> landscape". "This arrangement creates a dangerous precedent in India's corporate debt landscape — it encourages other defaulting companies to seek similar deals, where they can retain control and value even after significant defaults," Ramesh noted. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112987756" title="Congress alleges SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch of office for profit" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>His concerns extend to how this move might affect the <keyword id="20158086" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Insolvency-and-Bankruptcy-Code" source="keywords">Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code</keyword> (IBC) and India’s overall framework for handling distressed companies. By converting <keyword id="22921090" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="debt-to-equity" source="keywords">debt to equity</keyword>, SBI could be seen as aligning itself with the interests of the defaulting borrower (SIIL) rather than prioritising the recovery of public funds, which are at stake in cases involving <keyword id="19959986" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-sector-banks" source="keywords">public sector banks</keyword> like SBI. “The SBI appears to be aligning itself with the interests of the defaulting borrower (SIIL) rather than prioritising the recovery of public funds,” Ramesh further argued. "The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) needs to step in and examine SBI's decision-making process in this matter." Given the unusual nature of this debt restructuring and the potential risks it introduces, Congress is urging the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to step in and examine SBI’s decision-making process. Ramesh emphasised the need for regulatory scrutiny to ensure that public sector banks maintain discipline in their approach to resolving bad loans. Congress' position is that SBI’s move could create a moral hazard within India’s <keyword id="19964544" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="banking-sector" source="keywords">banking sector</keyword>, encouraging more companies to default on their loans with the hope of retaining control through similar debt-to-equity swaps. Ramesh pointed out that the entire situation raises questions about how distressed assets should be managed by public sector banks, and whether SBI’s actions are truly in the best interests of the public. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113620397" title="SEBI report reveals the ugly truth of F&amp;amp;O trading in India – 93% of retail traders incurred losses" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>"There is a pressing need to ensure that public sector banks maintain strict discipline in their approach to debt resolution and avoid creating moral hazards in the financial system." <h2>Broader implications</h2>This situation shines a light on broader challenges in India’s banking and insolvency frameworks. When public sector banks like SBI take significant financial losses (haircuts) and switch from creditors to shareholders, it risks undermining confidence in the banking sector’s ability to handle bad loans effectively. Moreover, it raises questions about the long-term sustainability of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) if companies that default can avoid paying back substantial portions of their debt and still retain operational control. (With inputs from PTI)

Congress criticises SBI's decision to convert SIIL debt into equity, urges RBI intervention

<ul class="summary-list"><li>OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, in a Monday blog post, called for massive investments in AI infrastructure.</li><li>Insufficient infrastructure, Altman warned, will lead to wars being fought over the technology.</li></ul>In a Monday <a target="_blank" href="https://ia.samaltman.com/">blog post</a>, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman argued that massive investment in AI infrastructure is key to market dominance — and avoiding global conflict."If we want to put AI into the hands of as many people as possible, we need to drive down the cost of compute and make it abundant (which requires lots of energy and chips)," Altman wrote. "If we don't build enough infrastructure, AI will be a very limited resource that wars get fought over, and that becomes mostly a tool for rich people."While promoting the development of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-ai-infrastructure-data-center-microsoft-blackrock-2024-9">AI infrastructure</a> is the new focus of industry leaders like Altman, researchers on the technology's social, environmental, and economic impacts told Business Insider that the development of the data centers and hardware systems needed to achieve artificial general intelligence or superintelligence will cost far more than money.Representatives for OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.<h2 id="71040451-7ee2-4474-ac54-2c383f024bc4">A sharp industry focus on AI infrastructure</h2>The new hot topic in artificial intelligence is infrastructure — investing in it, planning a massive expansion of computing power, and creating the data centers needed to develop the technology at scale.Last week, Microsoft and BlackRock <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://news.microsoft.com/2024/09/17/blackrock-global-infrastructure-partners-microsoft-and-mgx-launch-new-ai-partnership-to-invest-in-data-centers-and-supporting-power-infrastructure/">announced</a> the launch of a $30 billion fund to "enhance American competitiveness in AI while meeting the growing need for energy infrastructure to power economic growth."Earlier this month, the White House hosted a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/09/12/readout-of-white-house-roundtable-on-u-s-leadership-in-ai-infrastructure/">roundtable</a> with AI infrastructure leaders from around the country — including Altman and executives from Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Anthropic, among others — to "discuss steps to ensure the United States continues to lead the world in AI" and ensure the tech's development is aligned with "national security, economic, and environmental goals."While some experts are cautiously optimistic about AI, others pointed to pitfalls in the rapid build-up of infrastructure.<h2 id="0aa9a51a-d85a-46f5-bd85-fb71b3470c95">AI's unclear economic benefits</h2>Alex de Vries, an economist and the founder of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://digiconomist.net/">Digiconomist</a>, a platform dedicated to exposing the unintended consequences of digital trends, told Business Insider the current conversation on AI infrastructure is focused on the development of large-scale data centers, with industry insiders trying to convince national governments to greenlight expansion — despite unclear benefits."It costs a whole lot of resources, while data centers don't generate that many benefits for the local economy — not too many jobs, very little other business activity because no one has to be near a data center," de Vries said. "So for now, the trade-off is really bad."The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-return-investment-disappointing-goldman-sachs-report-2024-6">return on investment</a> in artificial intelligence is increasingly murky. With companies like OpenAI and others preparing to spend over $1 trillion on artificial intelligence in the coming years, a June Goldman Sachs <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.goldmansachs.com/intelligence/pages/gen-ai-too-much-spend-too-little-benefit.html">report</a> asked the question: "Are we spending too much for too little reward?"Proponents of the technology argue it could eventually help save lives by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-chatbots-tech-doctors-medicine-healthcare-system-empathy-quality-email-2023-6">revolutionizing the healthcare industry</a> or, as the United Nations climate technology <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://unfccc.int/ttclear/artificial_intelligence">website</a> suggests, "scaling up transformative climate solutions for mitigation and adaptation action in developing countries." However, chatbots and image generators have been the most publicly celebrated advancements in AI from the major Big Tech players — and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hallucinate-cambridge-dictionary-word-of-the-year-artificial-intelligence-2023-11">errors created by AI-generated content</a> have been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-generative-ai-cant-be-trusted-gary-marcus-openai-2024-8">well documented</a>.In recent earnings calls, executives from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-365-potential-price-changes-ai-investment-roi-2024-6">Microsoft</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-amazon-alphabet-spend-big-ai-investors-concerned-roi-2024-8">Alphabet</a> have repeatedly fended off investors' questions about when to expect a return on their AI expenditures.Shaolei Ren, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of California, Riverside, told Business Insider that, despite Altman's prediction in his blog post that we could be "a few thousand days" from an AI superintelligence, he's not optimistic that we're as close as Altman says we are — and he argued OpenAI's reliance on large language models is not the right path to get there.Rather than a single model that can do it all, Ren said he believes the industry needs to focus on smaller, more specialized models that require fewer resources and can be built to handle more precise tasks."I think we need to shift the way we build AI, not just rely on bigger and bigger models," Ren said. "This is not really sustainable or scalable."<h2 id="53158441-3f88-40ef-a72f-35691ba29f3a">An environmental disaster in the making</h2>Both de Vries and Ren said that beyond the financial costs, ensuring AI infrastructure is developed at the scale industry players like Altman seek comes with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chatgpt-generative-ai-environment-climate-change-global-emissions-2023-9">massive environmental costs</a>."If you're talking about large-scale data centers, they are going to be consuming a huge amount of power and a huge amount of water," de Vries said.He noted that data centers consume tons of water for their cooling systems — some of which evaporates, so it cannot be reused. Electricity consumption also skyrockets, driving up demand and increasing reliance on fossil fuels despite the industry's use of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-the-6-billion-market-for-renewable-energy-certificates-2020-3">renewable energy certificates (RECs)</a>.Wind and solar companies generate RECs for each unit of energy they create and then sell them. Buyers of RECs can then say they source renewable energy, even if they're using power from nonrenewable sources."The environmental consequences of a big surge in power demand are typically very, very bad — way, way worse than is being acknowledged by the Big Tech companies," de Vries said.<h2 id="733c12a0-a965-422f-be12-05faf7693bb2">A growing risk to the social order</h2>That's not to mention what Cary Coglianese, a professor of law and political science and the director of an interdisciplinary program focused on research on effective regulation at the University of Pennsylvania, describes as AI's impact on "social ordering."While Coglianese describes himself as "cautiously optimistic" about the benefits of artificial intelligence, he said even if we achieve advanced uses for the tech, the feat will come with "trade-offs.""Any human endeavor that involves an optimization challenge can be made more efficient through artificial intelligence," Coglianese said. "Some of those uses can be good, like finding malignancies on MRI scans — a great use of AI technology — but we'll also be making much more efficient weapon systems, or automating weapon systems, or creating tools that can oppress people that can be made more, quote-unquote, 'efficient.'"In his blog post, Altman writes that the dawn of what he calls the Intelligence Age comes "with very complex and extremely high-stakes challenges.""It will not be an entirely positive story," Altman wrote. "But the upside is so tremendous that we owe it to ourselves, and the future, to figure out how to navigate the risks in front of us."Altman didn't mention the current negative social impacts AI is already causing — such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-deepfakes-threaten-havoc-with-the-worlds-year-of-elections-2024-1">deepfakes infiltrating our political system,</a> a proliferation of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cgi-ai-fake-video-audio-news-hoaxes-information-warfare-revenge-porn-2017-8">AI-generated revenge porn</a>, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dell-layoffs-ai-strategy-workers-more-effective-jobs-fulfilling-2024-8">workers being replaced</a> as companies increasingly invest in the tech."There's a real disconnect between where the world is today socially and where it is technologically — and that's something that the technologists and the techno-optimists can often overlook," Coglianese told Business Insider. "I'm cautiously optimistic too, but we have to recognize that until we have a social ordering that's different than it is, a new technology won't be some magic elixir that will transform the globe into a utopia."

Sam Altman believes wars will be fought over AI unless there's massive spending on infrastructure. But that comes with a cost.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>EV charging has improved, but there is still a long way to go to convince the average driver.</li><li>Demand for electric vehicles in the US fell 14% in 2023, according to EY's study.</li></ul>We're getting closer to a cure for range anxiety, so why don't more people <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/automakers-back-to-the-drawing-board-ev-plans-2024-2">want an EV</a>?Only 34% of US shoppers planning to buy a vehicle in the next two years say they're likely to buy an EV, down significantly from the prior year, despite diminishing concerns about things like range anxiety and charging.The diverging trends were illustrated in EY's annual <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ey.com/en_us/newsroom/2024/09/us-consumers-less-likely-to-purchase-an-ev-than-last-year">Mobility Consumer Index</a>, which surveyed 20,000 respondents in 28 countries who said they were considering buying a new car in the next 24 months. Among US respondents, the firm found that only 24% of potential buyers cited range limitations as a top concern (down from 30% in the prior year), and only 23% are concerned about finding a place to plug in (down from 34%).This dip in demand is reflected in a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-vehicle-misconceptions-about-the-ev-transition-market-sales-2024-5">stagnation in EV sales growth</a> over the past year as companies adjust to a new crop of more practical green-car shoppers. Simply put, these shoppers are also much more difficult to please than the enthusiastic early adopters of years past. EY found that only 24% of US car buyers named range limitations a top concern, down from 30% a year ago. Meanwhile, only 23% of US buyers said they were concerned about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-vehicle-range-ev-charging-station-infrastructure-issues-2024-5">finding a place to plug in</a>, down from 34% of respondents in 2023.That should be a huge deal, but <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ev-electric-car-sales-plateau-early-adopters-competition-2023-8">today's electric-car shoppers</a> are less willing to endure the steep learning curve associated with switching to a fully electric car — even if they're getting cheaper and the tech is getting better."To keep momentum and make EV ownership appealing, it's imperative to educate and create a seamless customer experience from the dealership to the charge point," EY's Americas Power &amp; Utilities eMobility Leader Marc Coltelli said in the study.Battery-powered cars accounted for a record 7.6% of all car sales in 2023, according to Kelley Blue Book, up from 5.9% in 2022. But that sales growth has hit a plateau after years of exponential growth. Industry executives and analysts this year are estimating a more modest increase by the end of 2024, with EVs expected to account for between 8% and 10% of sales this year.<h2 id="5e995481-cafc-4a05-bbdd-943490394d6e">EV charging has improved, but there is still a long way to go</h2>Both the automotive industry and the US government have rallied around this issue, and at the start of this year the number of public charging stations in the US had doubled from 2020, according to Pew Research and the Department of Energy.In addition to this improvement in infrastructure, several EVs have been engineered to drive about as far as a gas car on a single charge, and batteries today are built to charge faster.But it's still not enough. The network of 61,000 public charging stations in the US pales in comparison to the roughly 120,000 gas stations nationwide. And just because a charger exists doesn't mean it's in the right place or compatible with the EV you're driving.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-electric-vehicle-experience-evx-public-charging-study">JD Power</a>'s annual study of EV public charging experiences released in August found that 19% of respondents visited a charger but were not actually able to charge their vehicle. A majority of these failed charging visits were due to lack of availability or the charger being broken, JD Power found.Affordability is also a key issue for today's electric car shoppers, an issue the industry has tried to address with lower sticker prices. The average price paid for an EV has fallen steadily for the past year, and some of the best <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ev-pile-up-dealer-lots-deals-discounts-leasing-2024-8">leasing deals</a> are reserved for electric cars right now.But EV shoppers have found a new cost to angst over.EY also found improvements in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-dozens-of-startups-leading-the-electric-car-charging-market-2022-2">charging and range attitudes</a> were dampened by an increase in worry about battery life and maintenance fees, with 27% of US respondents reporting concerns about expensive batteries.<h2 id="4c339c1e-7bfe-4082-9692-fca09b6cc911">EVs are still a tough sell for the average buyer</h2>US consumers are still quite skeptical about making the jump to a fully electric car, with 21% of respondents in EY's study saying they prefer a gradual transition from gas-powered cars to battery-powered cars.That's stoking demand for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/car-buyer-interest-hybrids-as-electric-vehicle-adoption-slowing-2023-10">hybrid vehicles</a>, which come in plug-in varieties or with gas-electric engines that don't need to recharge at all, due to the higher mileage per gallon and less of a lifestyle switch."With many still hesitant to go all in with EVs, hybrids offer an 'easier-to-swallow' solution," EY Americas Aerospace, Defense and Mobility Leader Raman Ram said in the report. "For those who are looking to transition due to the environment, hybrids allow owners to lessen their reliance on fuel and creates options for batteries and parts. For many, it's a win-win."It's not quite that simple, though. Hybrids are hard to find right now as automakers rush back to the once-withering segment. The current mismatch between supply and demand for these vehicles makes shopping for them stressful and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/plug-in-hybrid-prices-soaring-demand-electric-cars-2024-9">prices hard to swallow</a>.

Drivers are feeling better about EV range and charging infrastructure, but still aren't ready to go electric

The technology platform for providing "<keyword id="22918315" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="frictionless-credit" source="keywords">frictionless credit</keyword>" launched by the <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reserve Bank of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reserve Bank of India">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) last year as a pilot project will soon be introduced nationwide soon, said Reserve Banks of India Governor, <keyword id="19913110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shaktikanta-das" source="keywords">Shaktikanta Das</keyword> on Monday. This technology platform will be named "<keyword id="22918314" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Unified-Lending-Interface" source="keywords">Unified Lending Interface</keyword> (ULI)", Das said while speaking in Bengaluru at the event of the Global Conference on Digital Public Infrastructure and Emerging Technologies. Governor Das said "Just like <keyword id="19900911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPI" source="keywords">UPI</keyword> transformed the payments ecosystem, we expect that ULI will play a similar role in transforming the lending space in India. The 'new trinity' of JAM-UPI-ULI will be a revolutionary step forward in India's <keyword id="20018890" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-infrastructure" source="keywords">digital infrastructure</keyword> journey." The ULI platform facilitates a seamless and consent-based flow of digital information, including even land records of various states, from multiple data service providers to lenders. The technology platform introduced last year as a pilot projects cuts down the time taken for credit appraisal, especially for small and rural borrowers. Das stated that the ULI architecture has common and standardised APIs, designed for a 'plug and play' approach to ensure digital access to information from diverse sources. "This reduces the complexity of multiple technical integrations. It enables borrowers to get the benefit of seamless delivery of credit, and quicker turnaround time without requiring extensive documentation. By digitising access to customer's financial and non-financial data that otherwise resided in disparate silos, ULI is expected to cater to large unmet demand for credit across various sectors, particularly for agricultural and MSME borrowers," the RBI governor stated. Showing confidence in the newly launched ULI, Das said, "Just like UPI transformed the payments ecosystem, "we expect that ULI will play a similar role in transforming the lending space in India." Speaking about the success of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) Das said, "The current ecosystem of digital payments in India offers a bouquet of simple, safe, and secure options for instant or quick transfer of funds, both large and small value, for businesses and individuals." Das further stated stated that the apex bank is consistently trying to secure the financial system in the country. "We are constantly working on devising policies, approaches, systems and platforms that will make our financial sector stronger, nimble and customer-centric," Das said. Additionally, Das also highlighted that the central bank is constantly working on devising policies, systems, and platforms that will make the financial sector stronger, nimble and customer-centric. Das said that over the last decade, the traditional banking system has undergone an unprecedented technological transformation. By all indications, this process is likely to become even more intense in the coming years, he said. On the country's experience in DPI, he said, "DPI has enabled India to achieve in less than a decade levels of financial inclusion that would have otherwise taken several decades or even more" He also emphasised that UPI system has the potential to evolve into a cheaper and quicker alternative to available channels of cross-border remittances. The Governor also stressed that financial institutions should be abundantly mindful of associated risks of Artificial Intelligence.

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