Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari stated the government will provide production linked incentives (PLI) and the installation of Electric vehicle charging points across filling stations and important highways to match the cost of the country’s electric vehicles to the petrol counterpart in the next two years.
Speaking during a webinar on expediting the phase-out of coal and the transition to electric vehicles, the minister noted that the GST on electric vehicles is already just 5% and that the cost of lithium-ion batteries is also falling. “Besides, the government has already framed a policy allowing petrol pumps to set up EV charging stations. In two years there will be a lot charging points across India,” he elaborated.
- The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has framed a plan to install at least 700 EV charging stations across its major highways by 2023.
- The government has already framed a policy allowing petrol pumps to set up EV charging stations.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed a plan for installing at least 700 EV charging stations throughout its key highways by 2023. These will be spread out over a distance of 40-60 kilometers.
Gadkari also added that the government is ensuring that the EV charging stations are powered by green energy. “There is no benefit in producing coal-based electricity. Our attention is now on renewable sources such as solar, tidal, wind energy, and biomass. Domestic EV charging can be fulfilled through the rooftop solar system,” he said.
India currently has a renewable energy capability of 145 GW, the fourth largest in the world. Charging domestic EVs with solar PV cells and panel systems at homes, malls, parking lots, and workplaces would make such vehicles more economical and adaptable.
Reducing electric vehicle costs is important for the mass deployment of battery-powered vehicles, particularly because India has set the objective to penetrate private cars sale by 30% for EVs by 2030. Commercial vehicles are expected to account for 70% of EV sales, followed by buses at 40% and two- and three-wheelers at 80%.
Although the cost of electric two and three-wheelers has already practically matched the cost of petrol counterparts following subsidies, in the country only around two-three electric cars variants cost less than Rs 15 lakh.
Source: auto.hindustantimes.com
