Wednesday, August 16, 2017
By Kamal Swami
Bids Invited For 10,000 Electric Cars From Global Car Makers
Taking a big step for running electric cars on Indian roads by 2030, state-owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) has invited bids from global car makers that are manufacturing electric cars. In the beginning bids will be invited for manufacturing 10,000 electric sedans that will offer the drive of almost 150 km once charged fully. The said vehicles will be used by the government departments.
Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) has played an incredible role in exploring the efforts of government for use energy saving instruments has already reduced the price of energy-saving LED bulbs. Now under new strategy it speculates to buy e-vehicles for further popularizing the use energy efficient vehicles. The success of electric vehicles mainly depends on the presence of an appropriate infrastructure for charging the vehicles. According to reports EESL has also invited tenders for establishing 3,000 alternating current charging points and 1,000 direct current points.
According to Mr. Saurabh Kumar, the managing director, EESL, at present government is planning to hire sedans that will run about 12-150 km on single charge. The vehicles bided from the global manufacturers will be used by the officials of government departments in Delhi and National Capital Region. To facilitate smooth drive of these vehicles 400 charging points will be established at different locations in Delhi-NCR region. These charging points will be maintained by NTPC and Power Grid.
The sale of electric vehicles in Indian car market has been in trend from last two decades, especially the Reva from domestic car maker Mahindra and Mahindra. But despite of huge efforts by the government it did not succeed in impressing the buyers towards it. Another reason behind their weak performance is absence of supportive infrastructure in form of charging points and long time charging are some factors which need to be resolved for making the use of these vehicles in market. Encouraging the use of electric vehicles is part of government’s policy to minimize the drive of expensive vehicles running on fossil fuel.
Going through this strategy governments of different states are also having talks with manufacturers of electric vehicles for developing electric buses that could be use as the source of public transport within the urban areas.
