Public transport, state highways to be modified as Maharashtra aims to increase electric vehicles by 2025
The share of the EVs in new vehicle registrations in 2025 is expected to be 10%, 20% and 5% for two, three and four wheelers, respectively. As per the target, at least one factory for the manufacturing of advanced batteries will be set up.
It is also proposed that from April 2022, the fleet of all new government vehicles will be electric across major cities. Photo: Pixabay/Representational Image
With an aim to ensure that at least 10 per cent of the newly registered vehicles in the next four years in the ‘major’ cities would be electric, a senior Maharashtra government official today, showcased the draft of its Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, 2021.
“The share of EVs (electric vehicles) in new vehicle registrations across the state in 2025 is expected to be 10% for all vehicles, 10% for 2-wheelers, 20% for 3-wheelers, and 5% for 4-wheelers,” the press release stated.
As per the draft, it is planned that 15 per cent of the existing fleet of 18,000 Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses will be converted into electric vehicles over the next five years. Also, the major highways in the state are expected to be equipped with charging facilities for electric vehicles.
“The state intends on making the following four highways and expressways fully EV ready by 2025 including the under construction Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, Mumbai-Pune Express Highway, Mumbai-Nashik, and Nashik-Pune,” Avinash Dhakne, Transport Commissioner, Maharashtra, was quoted as saying in an official statement.
Additionally by 2025, city-wise targets of charging stations are proposed as 1,500 for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, 500 for Pune, 500 for Nagpur, 150 for Nashik, and 100 for Aurangabad, according to the Transport Commissioner.
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Ashish Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (Transport), Maharashtra stated that a final nod from the state cabinet is awaited — a decision that is expected to be a shot in the arm for the advent of electric vehicles in the country.
It is also proposed that from April 2022, the fleet of all new government vehicles will be electric across major cities.
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Additionally by 2025, city-wise targets of charging stations are proposed as 1,500 for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, 500 for Pune, 150 for Nagpur, 100 for Nashik and 75 for Aurangabad.