Town Planning Gone Wrong - Case Study Mumbai

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Electric Vehicle Policy - U turn by Government

The present Government in its policy of clean environment had committed to convert vehicles on road to electric vehicle by year 2030.
The problem of vehicular pollution is very strong particularly in northern states. The pollution caused by emissions of petrol and diesel vehicles is very severe and it has reached level of particulate in air to alarming level and has made air unfit for human consumption.
Earlier Government took steps to convert diesel run buses to CNG.
However pollution by other vehicles still continues. This has lead to situation wherein in city like Delhi 1 person out of 6 is suffering from tuberculosis.
The Government had no option but to move to 100% electric cars in stages and achieve its target by 2030. Since you are providing 13 years to implement something same seems to be workable.
The countries like Norway are already having 42% of their vehicle fleet as EV. They started in 1989 used famous pop group to promote. EVs were used in Lillehammer Winter Olympics.
They offered residents an incredible amount of tax breaks and incentives to purchase.
1) Exemption of VAT on purchase
2) No import or purchase taxes.
3) Toll on roads waived.
4) Low annual road tax.
5) Free Parking
6) 50% reduced company car tax.
7) Access to bus lanes
8) Exemption from 25% VAT on leasing
9) Ferry fees waived
They have created enough charging stations including those in shopping malls. There is charging station every 50 km and they have targetted one charging station per 10 EVs.
They have planned to edge out all petrol cars by year 2025.
The users once used to discipline of charging at regular intervals are able to use these cars effortlessly. The target set by Indian Government was as such realistic.
Minister for Surface Tranport , ports was very keen in implementing this. He was also aware about difficulties which Auto companies and their ancillary units will face in moving from diesel/petrol cars to 100% electric cars. At that time it was said that " hum auto companies ka band baja denge ". What this means that Auto companies will face imminent closure if they do not shift to electric in phased manner.
Later on intense lobbying started. Initially it was said that we can shift to hybrid car so that flexibility of using petrol/diesel continues. It was also indicated that country will require numerous charging stations and  we are not ready with infrastructure. The running of EV need to be watched first , remove initial troubles if any and then implement on large scale. The lobbying of Petroleum lobby was always there. India has huge import bill on account of crude oil imports. The nations supplying to India are keen that this trade continues. Also there are investments in refineries for crores of rupees. They are refining crude oil and number of down stream products are manufactured.
This lobbying has worked and now minister and Chairman of Niti Ayog have said that there will not be any EV policy but just action plan which is already announced. Government does not want to get involved in any Technology recommendation. Industry can decide as to how to reduce pollution by their products.
This has given breather to thousands of Auto ancillary units and nearly 70 lac employees. Ab unka band nahi bajega.
The question here is what about those who took Government call earlier seriously and spent crores of rupees for manufacturing EV ? If Norway can do then why not India ?

DPK Udas
dpk.udas@rediffmail.com

D.P.K.Udas

HandPhone- 91-9869000418
Landline - 91-22-28476158
E mail- dpk.udas@rediffmail.com