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-wheelers, three-wheelers, ambulances, trucks, and other emerging electric vehicles. Additionally, the scheme allocates funds for developing essential charging infrastructure.
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To facilitate 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 submitted to the dealer. The dealer will then upload the signed voucher to the PM E-DRIVE portal. This process is crucial for manufacturers to claim reimbursement of demand incentives.
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The scheme also prioritizes the deployment of e-ambulances, with Rs 500 crore allocated for this purpose. The performance and safety standards for e-ambulances will be developed in collaboration with relevant ministries and stakeholders. Furthermore, Rs 4,391 crore has been earmarked for procuring 14,028 e-buses by public transport agencies. Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) will aggregate demand for these buses in nine major cities.
To address concerns about range anxiety, the scheme includes Rs 2,000 crore for installing electric vehicle public charging stations (EVPCS). These stations will be strategically located in cities with high EV penetration and along selected highways. The plan involves setting up 22,100 fast chargers for electric four-wheelers, 1,800 for e-buses, and 48,400 for e-2W/3Ws.
To support the growing EV ecosystem, the ministry's test agencies will be modernized with an investment of Rs 780 crore. This modernization will enable them to evaluate new and emerging technologies, promoting green mobility.