Union Cabinet approves Rs 10,900 crore PM E-DRIVE scheme to boost adoption of electric vehicles
The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs 10,900 crore scheme, PM E-DRIVE, to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles In India, this initiative, proposed by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, offers subsidies to encourage the purchase of electric two- and three-wheelers, ambulances, trucks and other emerging electric vehicles. In addition, the scheme allocates funds to develop essential charging infrastructure.
To ease the process, the ministry is introducing e-vouchers for EV buyers. These vouchers can be used to claim demand incentives under the scheme. After purchasing an EV, buyers will receive an Aadhaar-authenticated e-voucher, which can be signed and sent to the dealer. The dealer will then upload the signed voucher on the PM E-DRIVE portal. This process is crucial for manufacturers to claim reimbursement of demand incentives.
The plan also prioritises the deployment of electric ambulances, with an allocation of Rs 500 crore for this purpose. Performance and safety standards for electric ambulances will be developed in collaboration with relevant ministries and stakeholders. In addition, Rs 4,391 crore has been earmarked for the procurement of 14,028 electric buses by public transport agencies. Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) will aggregate the demand for these buses in nine major cities.
To address concerns about range anxiety, the plan includes Rs 2,000 crore to install electric vehicle Public charging stations (EVPCS). These stations will be strategically located in cities with high penetration of electric vehicles and along selected highways. The plan involves installing 22,100 fast chargers for four-wheeled electric vehicles, 1,800 for electric buses and 48,400 for 2W and 3W electric vehicles.
To support the growing EV ecosystem, the ministry’s testing agencies will be modernised with an investment of Rs 780 crore. This modernisation will enable them to evaluate new and emerging technologies, promoting green mobility.
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