Electric Vehicles (EVs)

An EV includes a vehicle that can only be powered by an electric motor that draws electricity motor that draws electricity from a battery (all-electric vehicle). E-rickshaws to two-wheelers, the shift in the share of electric cars.

Need for Electric Vehicles:

1. Reduce oil imports

2. Improve Air Quality of Cities

3. Minimize GHGs Emissions

4. Economic Opportunity- Manufacturing and Innovation

5. Meet International Commitments

6. Rising demand as already around 27.4 lakh vehicles in India are Electric vehicles as of 2023. Which is also stated to increase by 10 times by the year 2030.

Government steps for promoting Electric Vehicles:-

1. e-AMRIT Portal launched at (COP26) summit in Glasgow which is a one-stop destination that provides all the information on EVs.

2. National Electric Mobility Mission Plan

3. FAME Scheme- Faster Adoption & Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles scheme.

4. Some states have even incorporated their own set of policies because of the increase in demand for EVs in their states. For eg. Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and the UT of Delhi.

5. MoHUA- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, notified amendments in model building bye-laws.

6. ISRO- commercialized Lithium Battery.

7. GST Restructuring as giving incentivization for EVs- reduced from 12% to 5% for charging infrastructure from 18% to 5% which was done by the GST Council.

8. Production linked incentive scheme (PLI) which will incentives the price of Electric batteries.

Challenges to Electric Vehicles:-

1. The requirement for subsidy is likewise given in Norway and China

2. Electricity source- This is yet a grave concern as it is driving its source from Thermal Power, so even though we are reducing emissions from vehicles we are generating more through these power plants.

3. Charging Network India currently has about 2000 charging stations, they support about 26.4 lakh vehicles in the country which is currently inadequate.

4. Deterrents which the Consumers face:-

• Range Anxiety

• Resale Value

• Electricity Supply

5. Importing materials required for manufacturing of EV batteries and vehicles.

6. Shortage of skilled manpower.

Way Forward:-

1. Reducing upfront costs

2. Extending FAME-II

3. Promoting an increasing awareness

4. Expediting Lithium Extractions

5. Building trust among consumers

6. Reuse/Disposal of batteries

7. Encourage lending

8. Non-financial incentives

9. Apprenticeships & Training.