The NITI Aayog is in talks with the Indian Railways to set up Electronic Vehicle (EV) charging facilities across major railway stations in the country. The draft policy, to promote electronic vehicles among the masses, has been submitted to the Railways by the NITI Aayog.

The primary policy drafted by the NITI Aayog recommends putting up EV charging infrastructure powered by renewable energy resources with the aim of Indian Railways to become net-zero carbon emitter by 2030. Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog, while talking about the policy has said that the facility can be immediately started at 123 newly redeveloped railway stations as a pilot project. The railways can thence scale up the policy across Railway stations in the country by 2030. “Railway stations are landmark locations and they play a unique role in the entire transport sector, which make them strategic locations for providing public charging solutions for EVs,” he added.

The decision is in recognition of the Central Government’s FAME-II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and EV) scheme which aims to foster quick adoption of EVs as a sustainable boost to the transport sector. Under the scheme, the central government aims to support 7,000 e-buses, 500,000 electric three-wheelers, 55,000 electric four-wheeler passenger cars, and one million electric two-wheelers through subsidy. To establish a critical and accessible EV charging infrastructure network across the country, railway stations can provide secure and accessible charging infrastructure to city residents, NITI Aayog officials said. Responding to this move, Rajeev Jain, additional DG, PR, railway ministry, said, “We have very recently received the communication. We are working on it.”

Last week, The Central Ministry of Power had given nod to allow charging of EVs using existing electrical connections at homes, offices while issuing guidelines and standards. The new guidelines also enable individuals to set up public charging stations without the requirement of a license. Steps for laying out a critical EV charging network have come after India witnessed a 132% growth in the sale of electric two-wheelers in 2021.

India saw triple-digit growth in the sale of electric two-wheelers in 2021

Sales of electric two-wheelers (E2W) in India increased by 132% year-on-year (YoY) in 2021, the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) said in a new report published on January 6.  

A total of 233,971 electric two-wheelers were sold during the year as compared to 100,736 a year ago.  

Hero Electric with 34% of the market share was the top seller of registered electric two-wheelers in India in 2021. Okinawa (22%) and Ather (12%) were the other two companies with double-digit market share in the top ten.   

The high-speed electric two-wheelers that can go beyond 25kmph and require a full license to operate, grew at an even higher 425% YoY as compared to low-speed counterparts which grew only by 24%. Low-speed electric two-wheelers can muster speeds under 25kmph and require no license or registration. According to SMEV, low-speed electric two-wheelers were in demand until 2020 and accounted for 70% of all sales. However, interest in it has waned in 2021, especially in the October-December quarter when its market share dropped to less than 15%. 

SMEV has attributed this to the subsidies on high-speed electric two-wheelers under the FAME 2 policy that have made them more affordable as compared to low-speed two wheels. FAME 2 or Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India is an incentive-based scheme by the government of India to subsidize the making and buying of electric vehicles including two-wheelers. According to Sohinder Gill, director-general of SMEV, the recent changes in EV policy through FAME 2 were game-changing for the EV industry.   

“In the last 15 years, we collectively sold around 1 million electric two-wheelers, e-three wheelers, e-cars, and e-buses, and we will most likely sell the same 1 million units in just one year beginning January 2022,” said Gill.   

Gill believes that in the next 12 months, the sales will grow 5 to 6 times more.  

“Customers have now started shifting in large numbers from petrol two-wheelers to electric ones due to attractive prices, lower running costs, and lower maintenance. A significant percentage of customers also factor in the environment and sustainability in their decision to buy an electric two-wheeler,” he added.  

Electric motorcycles accounted for only 2% of the market, while the rest were electric scooters, said Gill, even though all-electric two-wheelers sold in India are called electric bikes or e-bikes. Electric cycle sales in India have been negligible and traction in them has just started, he added. 

References:

opindia.com - OpIndia Staff