India gears up for its first-ever hosting of the G20 Summit, and in a prelude to the event, the country’s business and cultural communities joined hands for a Vintage Car drive to exhibit the nation’s economic growth and cultural heritage. However, while the event successfully showcased the classic automobiles, many believe that it should have highlighted the importance of Electric Vehicles (EVs) instead. The government has been pushing the EV moment to reduce pollution and reliance on fossil fuels.
Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, Shri VK Saxena, flagged off the “Vintage for Life” – the G20 car drive from the National Stadium, which saw the participation of 50 curated vintage cars and 23 vintage motorcycles. The vehicles cruised around the decorated streets of Lutyen’s Delhi before culminating at the Delhi Gymkhana Club. The event was organized by the Department of Transport, GNCTD, in association with the HMCI- Heritage Motoring Club of India.
The event was attended by Amitabh Kant, Sherpa G20, along with Chief Secretary Delhi, Naresh Kumar, Awini Ambuj Shankar, Founder Member of the HMCI, and other senior officials of the Delhi government. Many citizens and diplomats of G20 countries also joined the drive. The cars and bikes dated back from the 1920s to the 1970s and caught the attention of onlookers who captured the spectacle on their cameras and mobile phones. However, the lack of attention to EVs in the event was a missed opportunity, given India’s goal to transition to cleaner energy sources