(a) whether the Government proposes to promote battery operated vehicles in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether battery operated vehicles are more expensive than conventional vehicles and there is a shortage of charging infrastructure for such vehicle in the country; and
(d) if so, the steps being taken by the Government to make the said vehicles more popular by reducing their cost and expanding the charging infrastructure/network?
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) and (b) Yes Sir, in order to bring in clean fuel vehicles the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued following regulation and advisories as mentioned below:-
(i) Retro-fitment of hybrid electric system or electric kit to vehicles.
(ii)Registration mark for Battery Operated Vehicles to be in Yellow colour on Green background for the transport vehicles and for all other cases, in White colour on Green background.
(iii)Specifications for the grant of licence to age group of 16-18 years to drive gearless E scooters/ Bikes upto 4.0 KW.
(iv)Exemption to the Battery Operated Transport Vehicles and Transport Vehicles running on Ethanol and Methanol fuels from the requirements of permit.
(v)Advisory to all States and Union Territories to promote use of electric vehicles.
(vi)Advisory to all States and UTs regarding sale and registration of Electric Vehicles without batteries.
2. Department of Heavy Industry formulated a scheme namely Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme in March, 2015 to promote adoption of electric/ hybrid vehicles (xEVs). Phase-I of the Scheme was extended upto 31st March 2019. At present, Department is administering Phase-II of FAME India Scheme for a period of 3 years w.e.f. 01st April, 2019 with a total budgetary support of Rs. 10,000 crore. This phase focuses on supporting electrification of public & shared transportation and aims to support, through subsidies, approx. 7000 e-Buses, 5 lakh e-3 Wheeler, 55000 e-4 Wheeler Passenger Cars and 10 lakh e-2 Wheeler. In addition, creation of charging infrastructure is also supported to address anxiety among users of electric vehicles.
(c) and (d) The upfront cost of battery-operated vehicles is higher than the conventional vehicles. However, the operational cost of battery-operated vehicles is lower than the conventional vehicles. Therefore, the overall life time cost of the battery-operated vehicles is lower than the conventional vehicles. Battery-operated vehicles are being supported by the way of demand incentives under FAME India Phase II to reduce the cost difference between the battery-operated vehicles and the conventional vehicles.
2. Ministry of Power has taken various initiatives to expand the charging infrastructure/ network which is as under:-
(i) Ministry of Power has issued clarification on Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles with reference to the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003 clarifying that the charging of batteries of electric vehicles through charging stations does not require any license under the provisions of Electricity Act, 2003.
(ii) Central Electricity Authority has issued amendments in the regulations regarding Technical Standards pertaining to Grid Connectivity and Safety of supply for Charging Stations.
(iii) Guidelines and Standards for Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles were issued on 14.12.2018 which have been revised on 01.10.2019. An amendment has been issued on 08.06.2020 regarding capping of Tariff for Supply of Electricity to PCS and Definitions of Public Charging Station, Battery Swapping Stations, Battery Charging Stations and Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment.
(iv) Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has been selected as the Central Nodal Agency (CNA) under the provisions of Guidelines issued on 01.10.2019.
Additionally, Department of Heavy Industry’s ''The FAME-India Scheme'' envisages support for setting up adequate public charging infrastructure to instill confidence among EV users, through active participation and involvement of various stakeholders including Government agencies, industries and public sector enterprises (PSUs).
3. The Department of Heavy Industry had sanctioned about 520 Charging Stations/ Infrastructure for Rs. 43 Crore (approx.) under Phase-I of FAME-India Scheme. Department of Heavy Industry has also sanctioned 2,877 Electric Vehicles (EVs) Charging Stations amounting to Rs 500 Crore (Approx.) in 68 cities across 25 States/UTs under FAME India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles in India) scheme phase II.
As per data available with Central Electricity Authority, a total of 935 Public Charging Stations have been installed by various entities across India.