Maharashtra is on the way to electrify its highways by 2025

For just a while, the world has known that the future of mobility is electric, with e-vehicles considered the best bet for reducing pollution. As a result, the Maharashtra government has set a target of 10% of all new vehicles registered in 2025 will be electric vehicles (EVs). The Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Policy 2021 has set a target of a certain percentage of all vehicles EV- friendly, with inter-city express highways being EV-friendly.

What is the revised EV policy? What's government aim for by updating it?

According to the revised EV policy, 10% of two-wheelers, 20% of three-wheelers, and 5% of four-wheelers newly registered at RTOs must be electric vehicles. At least 25% of the fleets of aggregator cabs, delivery services, e-commerce companies, and so on must be EVs. A separate policy for lithium-ion battery recycling has also brought forward.

According to the revised Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, 2021, the Maharashtra government aims to have 10% of all newly registered vehicles in its main cities be electric by 2025.

The authorities acknowledge that the public is price consciousness, and that vehicle costs are a major deciding factor. The affordability of these vehicles is critical, as the development of a robust infrastructure for battery swapping and charging stations. In the future, a mechanism for properly disposing of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles will consider.

"The primary goal of the Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Policy 2021 is to accelerate the adoption of an electric vehicle so that they can account for 10% of new vehicle registrations by 2025", According to officials from the state transportation department. More importantly, starting in April 2022, all vehicles owned or leased by the state government will be electric vehicles.

What's the view of Avinash Dhakne towards the revised EV policy?

According to Transport Commissioner Avinash Dhakne's presentation, the policy draught aimed at all urban agglomerations — Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Aurangabad, Pune, and Nagpur. Nashik also plans to electrify 25% of intra-city public transportation and last-mile delivery vehicles by 2025. The draught policy also includes a bold plan to convert 15% of the existing fleet of 18,000 State RTC buses to electric vehicles over the next five years.

On Thursday, Mr Dhakne spoke at an online town hall hosted by Climate Voices, a collaboration of three organisations: Purpose, Asar, and Climate Trends, as well as the Maharashtra Environment and Climate Change Department's Majhi Vasundhara initiative. The non-profit Vatavaran Foundation and the WRI India Ross Centre for Sustainable Cities hosted the event.

"By 2025, the State intends to make four highways and expressways fully EV ready, including the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, Mumbai-Pune Express Highway, Mumbai-Nashik, and Nashik-Pune," Mr Dhakne said. The government has also proposed that beginning in April 2022, all new government vehicles in major cities listed in the policy framework will be electric.

"By 2025, the five targeted agglomerations of Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, and Aurangabad will have 25 per cent of their intra-city public transportation and last-mile delivery vehicles electrified. Furthermore, we intend to convert 15% of MSRTC's current bus fleet to electric vehicle" Avinash Dhakne, State Transport Commissioner, described the project as "electric." 

Ashish Kumar's Reaction: What did Ashish Kumar say on this?

Additional Chief Secretary A.K. Singh announced the salient highlights of the revised Electric Vehicles Policy 2021, which is awaiting approval by the state Cabinet, at a virtual conference on the future of electric mobility.

According to Singh, the state's share of central vehicle registrations is currently around 12% (32,000), which isn't high enough to excite automakers.

According to Ashish Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (Transport), the policy is awaiting Cabinet approval. Mr Singh, who chairs the policy committee, stated, "We are eager to take advantage of the government of India's schemes, and just as we are the leading manufacturers of internal combustion engines, we will soon become the leading manufacturers of EVs also". He stated that the Transport Department has already consulted with stakeholders but is still open to public suggestions.

Charging stations target for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region

Furthermore, city-specific charging station targets of 1,500 for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, 500 for Pune, 150 for Nagpur, 100 for Nashik, and 75 for Aurangabad are proposed by 2025.

The share of EVs in new vehicle registrations in 2025 is expecting to be 10%, 20%, and 5% for two, three, and four-wheelers, respectively. At least one Gigafactory for advanced battery manufacturing will be built, according to the plan.

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