Rally to promote electric vehicles

On the occasion of World Environment day a Rally of electric and hybrid vehicles of all categories like 2W/3W/4W etc was today flagged off jointly by the Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Shri Anant Geete and Minister Environment & Forests Shri Prakash Javdekar from the India Gate lawns in New Delhi.

This event was organized by Department of Heavy Industry with sole objective to inform public at large that Government has initiated the scheme Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME India) in order to protect the environment and this scheme will help reduction in the use of fossil fuel, which is one of the main sources of GHG emission from road transport sector. SIAM and SMEV will be helping the Department for smooth conduct of this programme.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Anant Geete said the move to promote use of electric and hybrid vehicles is part of Prime Ministers Make in India Initiative. He said initially a subsidy of 30% will be given to buyers of such vehicles. The minister said the phased replacement of fossil fuel based vehicles by the new generation vehicles based on the latest technologies will result in a net saving of Rs. 14,000 crore which could have gone for a purchase of petro products. He appealed to the Automobile manufacturers in the country to chip in this mega project for the success of indigenous efforts under the Make in India concept. Shri Geete said the future belongs to electric vehicles and we must welcome it.

The guest of occasion Union Environment & Forest Minister Shri Prakash Javdekar said this project is in tune with the country’s resolve of reducing the carbon emission to protect the environment of this universe as a whole. The minister said the launch of this campaign will definitely strengthen Indian stand on this issue on the international platforms. For years he himself is using electric scooter for his personal local trips, Shri Javdekar added.

Mr Sohinder Gill, Director- Corporate Affairs, Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), said on the occasion that “The rally is aimed at creating awareness and buzz among citizens about the benefits and utility of electricvehicles as well as showcasing the state-of-the-art vehicles from manufacturers around the world including our own. World around, people are fast switching over to e-vehicles as health, environmental and long term monetary benefits far outweigh all other considerations but in India, we had lagged behind due to various reasons. Now that a conducive environment is being created, we can expect faster adoption,”

In his welcome address Shri Ambuj Sharma, Additional Secretary in the M/o Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises said the overall scheme is proposed to be implemented over a period of six years, till 2020, and it aims to encourage sales of electric and hybrid vehicles up to 60-70 lakh units per year. The Phase-1 of the scheme will be implemented over a two-year period in FY15-16 and FY16-17. Out of the Rs 795 crore budget allocated for the scheme in the first two fiscals, the government has already approved an initial outlay of Rs 75 crore in this year’s budget.

About 25 owners of electric vehicles mainly of Mahindra Rewa took part in the rally. About 50, two wheelers were brought by various electric scooter manufacturers. Provision of test drive at India Gate for attracting people to use these vehicles was also made. At India Gate, A lucky draw for all participants was also held and winner of the contest Shri Arun Sharma from Karol Bagh, New Delhi was gifted with a electric Two-wheeler to be sponsored by Hero electric.

The rally culminated at T3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi where the speakers including Mr. Marshal from the Delhi International Airport (P) Limited, Delhi also highlighted the importance of Eco-friendly hybrid vehicles. Shri Ambuj Sharma, Addtitional Secretary, DHI while giving a brief of the Ministry Initiatives emphasized there should also be facilities for the charging of Electric Vehicles at the Airport Parking area too as this will encourage more and more persons to go for such new generation vehicles. Like in the India Gate Lawns, a lucky draw was also held for the arrived today morning through T3 terminal in which One Mr. Rahul, a resident of Saket area in South Delhi was the lucky winner to get a free electric two-wheeler from M/S Lohia, manufacturer of electric vehicles.

Major attraction of rally was soft launch by Mahindra and Mahindra its Sedan category vehicle (E-verito), which is first four-door pure electric model in the country.

It is pertinent to mention here that, the government has recently launched the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme in the country.. Under this scheme, the centre will offer incentives onelectric and hybrid vehicles to promote to boost the sales of electric and hybrid vehicles in the country.

The scheme will focus on four key areas namely, technology development, demand creation, pilot projects and charging infrastructure. Based on the results and experience achieved in the first phase, the scheme will be reviewed for implementation after March 31, 2017, with appropriate fund allocation in future.

Government has the target of penetration of 6-7 million of electric and hybrid vehicles per year by 2020 resulting into saving of fossil fuel worth Rs. 60000 crore which in turn result into reduction of 2 million MT of C02 per year. This scheme is aligned with Make in India campaign and expected to create additional 3 lakh employment.