Tuesday, October 22, 2019
By Manoj Kumawat
Chandigarh Drafts The Policy To Encourage The Use of EVs
Going through the increasing interest towards the electric mobility within the country, every state is initiating new policies and strategies to encourage the use of electric vehicles among the people. Following the same practice the administration of the Chandigarh government has created a draft of the policies for the electric vehicles, and has emerged as the new debutant to in the group of states that have developed or drafted the policy for the use of electric vehicles. Prior to Chandigarh, the states of Delhi, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu has designed the policy for the use of electric vehicles.
It would be interesting to know that with more than 1.2 million vehicles, Chandigarh owns the pride of being the city with a high density of the vehicles. Now taking the steps towards the smart city the Ministry of Urban Development, Chandigarh, is taking interest towards the adaptation of electric mobility. According to the reports the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) has issued a tender for 40 electric buses and charging stations. For this, the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission will charge the monthly rent of Rs. 100 on the electricity billing for the charging stations. Rs. 4 has been determined as cost per unit for charging. It is reported that the Chandigarh want to become as "one of the world's leading clean cities" and to achieve this objective the local administration has drafted the following policy.
1. After 2030, only EVs will be registered in Chandigarh
2. By 2027, Chandigarh will have an all-electric fleet of public buses and by 2025; the city will have an all-electric government fleet.
3. By 2030, Chandigarh roads will have all-electric rickshaws, corporate fleets, cabs and school buses/vans.Chandigarh has also proposed to install 1,000 public EV chargers by 2030.
The draft report also includes the strategy determined for the buyers of the electric vehicles.
1. Buyers of electric two- and three-wheelers will get a direct subsidy of Rs 20,000 (only for first 3,000 buyers).
2. On purchase of EVs, buyers will get a 100 per cent exemption in road tax and registration charges till 2024.
3. Free insurance for 1 year (for first 1,000 EV buyers in Chandigarh).
4. All government-owned parking spaces will have dedicated free parking slots reserved for EVs, the report said, adding that all commercial buildings, education institutions and RWAs will have to have reserved parking space for EVs equipped with charging facilities.
5. New public parking lots in Chandigarh will have a 30 per cent dedicated parking space for EVs.
Incentives and assistance for EV charging include:
1. Rs 4 per unit will be charged by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) and a monthly charge of Rs 100 on electricity bill for EV charging stations has been fixed.
2. A subsidy of 30 per cent will be provided on the installation of home chargers.
3. Charging infrastructure companies willing to install charging stations at public places will get a subsidy of 15 per cent.
4. Dedicated lanes for EV charging will be set up by Chandigarh administration in every sector of the Union Territory.
5. Amendment to building and construction laws will be made to ensure charging infrastructure is integrated at the planning stage itself for all new constructions.
