'India Lacks Lithium Refining Capacity': Rathin Kukreja

At NDTV AutoMate: The Fuel and Future Summit 2026, Rathin Kukreja, Lead Advisor – Energy (India), Environmental Defense Fund, said India's EV ecosystem must become more self-reliant to make electric mobility affordable in the long run. He stressed that the country remains heavily dependent on imported battery cells and lithium, calling for faster localisation, a stronger domestic battery manufacturing ecosystem, and policy reforms inspired by India's successful solar manufacturing model to reduce import dependence and strengthen the EV supply chain.