Government to spend Rs 1,000 cr to back electric vehicles sales

The electric vehicle segment in India is slowly getting its due. Ministry of Heavy Industries Additional Secretary, Ambuj Sharma, has made it known that the government has earmarked Rs 1,000 crore for the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan for the next two financial years.

The amount  as declared above would be utilised to set up charging infrastructure, technology development, incentives and pilot projects. "We have a road map till 2020 where we expect around 6-7 million electric and hybrid vehicles in the country. The government has earmarked Rs 1,000 crore for the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan in the next two fiscals (2015-16, 2016-17)," Sharma said.

The scheme is set to begin on April 1 this year. "After looking at the results of the two years we would further seek support in the next plan," Sharma said. 

In the Auto Expo 2014, we had seen how the government was actively promoting electric and hybrid vehicles. In fact, more than 15 Indian-made electric and hybrid products were on display. As long as cost remains a hindrance to this segment, we wonder how the vehicles will get  their due. But the news is enough to get our hopes up again.

In other news, India’s leading SUV manufacturer, today announced the launch of the 1st Electric Vehicle pilot project, under the aegis of the Government of India’s ambitious National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. As part of the project, four battery-powered Maxximo Electric Vans were handed over to the Agra Development Authority, which will be used along the clean, green Taj Zero Emission Corridor, to help reduce vehicular emissions.

Source:Economictimes