Mega Push For Electric Vehicles: 69,000 Petrol Pumps To Have Charging Facility; Only 5% GST For EVs

·        Centre chalking out schemes to promote e-mobility

·        The GST on Electric Vehicles to be reduced to 5%.

Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari, revealed the centre’s plans to promote e-transportation while addressing a virtual conference recently. He stated that the government is planning to upgrade the infrastructure of 69,000 petrol pumps to make them suitable for electric vehicles. This is one of the initiatives outlined by the government to boost the usage of EVs among Indians.

What Is The Government’s Plan Of Action?

Along with the installation of at least one EV charging booth in 69,000 petrol pumps all across the country, the government has taken several other measures as well. The GST on electric vehicles will be reduced to 5%. Besides the cost of batteries in 2-3 wheelers will be delinked from the cost of the vehicles as the batteries constitute almost 30% of the cost price of the EVs.

“Battery charging ecosystem is very important…the government is planning to set up at least one electric vehicle charging kiosk at around 69 thousand petrol pumps across the country to induce people to go for electric mobility,” Gadkari stated in the conference.

What Additional Measures Can Be Taken?

Besides the master plan of the government, the union minister encouraging EV manufacturer to attract more buyers by reducing the price of e-vehicles. According to him, “Reducing cost may result in some losses initially, but will bring great benefits. As a marketing strategy you have to reduce the cost to get numbers.”

He is also insisting automakers to focus on producing flexible fuel vehicles (FFV) which are designed to run on more than one fuel, for instance, ethanol and methanol fuel along with petrol. India has the potential and resources to introduce flex engines, believes Gadkari.

 “Our auto industry has made significant strides in terms of development of different designs and models, robust R&D, huge market, stable government frame-work and bright and young engineering minds. India already is the largest manufacturer of two-wheelers in the world,”

What Is The Road Transport and Highways Ministry Aiming For?

     Previously, Nitin Gadkari had shared his vision of India becoming a global automobile manufacturing hub in the next five years.

 “The future is very bright and India has the potential to become the largest Electric Vehicle (EV) market in the world as the government continues to push for EV adoption.” he said.

Promotion of Electric vehicles will also help the country to reduce the pollution caused due to vehicles burning fuels. For the same purpose, some of the other states like Telangana, Gujarat, and Delhi have formulated their own EV policies. Recently, Tamil Nadu took a huge step towards the goal by declaring 100% tax exemption for all EVs.

Afterall the game plan proposed by the government looks promising. With such initiatives India is only moving forward to a more developed and sustainable future.