Transport Ministry urges states to incentivise EVs, promote them for shared mobility

NEW DELHI:The transport ministry has written to state governments, asking them to create ‘preferential policies’ for adoption of electric vehicles through incentives including waiving of road taxes for EVs and land allotment for setting up charging infrastructure.

States have also been asked to encourage induction of electric vehicles in shared mobility and public transport operations.

In a letter sent to Principal Secretaries, transport and transport commissioners, the ministry has asked states to adopt initiatives taken by the Centre for promotion of electric vehicles, which include green registration plates for zero-emission vehicles, exemption from permit requirement for EVs to ply as transport vehicles, and license to drive e-scooters for those aged between 16-18 years.

The Centre has also advised states to allot land for setting up charging infrastructure, and mandate charging infrastructure in malls, housing societies and office complexes in addition to public parking places.

The ministry noted that shared mobility has registered an ‘encouraging growth’ and the share of electric and zero-emission vehicles must be increased in shared mobility segment.

“Since, public transport and shared mobility vehicles typically cover higher distances, their conversion into electric would bring considerable impact on the harmful emissions in the cities,” said the letter issued by the ministry on Wednesday.

ET reported on July 2nd that the centre was expected to issue an advisory to states asking them to encourage shared-mobility.

The ministry pointed out that several states are still insisting on permits for electric vehicles, requesting them to operationalise the ministry’s notification issued in October 2018 to exempt EVs from requiring passenger transport permit.

The government must offer adequate lucrative incentives to speed up the deployment of electric vehicles, the transport ministry said. Further to this, states must waive the road tax on EVs “to the maximum possible extent”, which bring down the initial cost of electric vehicles for the consumer.