The Maharashtra Government introduced the draft Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2021 a few weeks ago with the aim of improving EV adoption and infrastructure development across the state.
We’re now learning what this new policy will bring to the table, courtesy of sources cited by the HT. The draft has put forth a range of ideas to boost EV adoption including exemptions in road taxes, registration fees, plus subsidies on vehicle costs. The government may also offer property tax rebates for residential buildings that invest in electric car charging stations.
The draft policy has the goal of bringing around 1,50,000 new BEVs or battery-operated electric vehicles across Maharashtra’s roads by the year 2025. It is estimated that electric vehicles will account for at least 10 per cent of new vehicle registrations in the state by 2025. Sources further added that the State Cabinet is likely to approve the policy soon.
Also read - MSRTC To Setup Electric Charging Station At ST Bus Stations
Some of the incentives mentioned above will no doubt bring the cost of electric vehicles down. This will be coupled with the incentives offered as part of the Central Government’s Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and EV (FAME) II plan.
The discounts on EVs will likely be determined by the battery capacity of a particular vehicle. An official detailed this during a meeting with CM Uddhav Thackeray last week, saying, “..early bird discount of ₹2,500/kWh of the vehicle battery capacity in addition to aforesaid incentives for EV purchased before December 31, 2021.“ The government is also mulling scrappage incentives starting at ₹7,000 for electric two-wheelers, and up to ₹25,000 for electric four-wheelers.
A previous report also talked about the State looking to switch all existing government vehicles in major cities with electric vehicles from April 2022 onwards. It also plans to electrify at least 25 per cent of the existing public transport vehicles including last-mile delivery vehicles. Further, around 15 per cent of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses are expected to be electrified by 2025.
Officials familiar with the matter said that the State Government will not directly invest in the new EV policy, but instead depend on strategic investments made by major companies in the sector to help prepare adequate EV infrastructure in the city.
Read - Navi Mumbai To Have 36 Electric Car Charging Stations
Share
Tweet
