Government trying to make electric cars accessible

According to reports, the Government of India is analysing the subsidies that could apply to cost of ownership for electric vehicles (EVs).

Ambuj Sharma, additional secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, said subsidies could well work out to ₹ 12,000 crore over a seven-year period as the number of vehicles that run on electricity go up.

The government is working with the Union finance ministry for a tie-up to facilitate more ownership of EVs. The idea behind the government's plan is to ensure a self-sustaining ecosystem by the year 2020. The government has said that there could be six to seven million EVs, including two-wheelers, on India's roads by that dateline.

The government has already approved a pilot project for Delhi that comprises two parts. In the first part, which will be handled by a specially constituted SPV, the target is the corporate sector that currently hires diesel and petrol vehicles; the government wants it to use EVs. In the second part, the government is examining using EVs for last-mile connectivity.

Meanwhile, the government is working on its Automotive Mission Plan for the year 2016-26. Sharma admitted that the objectives of AMP 2006-16 had not been met fully but was confident that 75 percent of that target could be met in about two years.