Govt Takes A U-Turn, Says No Need For Policy On Electric Vehicles

An action plan has been put in place which would encourage manufacturing and use of EVs, thus removing the necessity for an EV policy.

Outlook Web Bureau

Updated on: 16 February 2018 5:54 pm

In an apparent U-turn, the government has decided to drop the idea of an Indian Electric vehicle (EV) policy, Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkar said on Thursday.

An action plan has been put in place which would encourage manufacturing and use of EVs, thus removing the necessity for an EV policy, he said.

"No need for EV policy. Action plan has been prepared. Each ministry has started implementing action plan," NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said while addressing the media after Union minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated two electric charging stations at NITI Aayog's premises.

The government had been planning an EV policy aiming at 100 per cent electric mobility by 2030. Gadkari, in favour of the policy, had been waiting for a clearance from the union cabinet.

Several automobile companies, however, had opposed the idea, and lobbied the government to drop it, reported The Mint.

Replying to a query, Kant said instead of trapping technology in rules and regulations, focus should be on promoting new innovations.

"Don't freeze anything for the country. Technology is always ahead of rules and regulations. It becomes difficult to change rules and regulations. Future will be shared economy, future will be connected economy and the future will zero-based emission policy," he said.

Giving the example of Maruti Suzuki, he said India became the centre of compact car manufacturing.

Kant further said, "We will push adoption across all segments including two wheelers, three wheelers and buses. NITI Aayog, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Power, and Department of Heavy Industries will come together to bring about a revolution to support the PM's initiative of using technology for Make-in-India".

Accelerated adoption of electric and shared vehicles can save USD 60 billion in diesel and petrol costs while cutting down as much as 1 gigatonne (GT) of carbon emissions for India by 2030, government think-tank NITI Aayog said in a joint report with Rock Mountain Institute.

(Inputs from PTI)