Vehicle makers expect early rollout of electric mobility plan

The National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 is expected to be rolled out in the next three-five months.

Under the plan, the Government will provide subsidies worth ₹14,000 crore to electric vehicle manufacturers over the next six years.

The target is to sell six-seven million electric and hybrid vehicles, including four-five million two-wheelers and thereby save 2.2- 2.5 million tonnes of liquid fuel by 2020.

The plan has given hope to the electric vehicles manufacturers for revival of the sector.

“If implemented, the plan would lead to a flurry of electric vehicle launches in the next two-three years in the country, leading to exponential growth of green cars on the Indian roads,” Sohinder Gill, Director, Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), told reporters here.

Lack of incentives for both suppliers and consumers have led to a drastic fall in the sales of these vehicles, especially after the withdrawal of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy subsidy in March 2012, he said.

According SMEV, the sales of e-vehicles have fallen down to 21,000 units in 2013-14, from over one-lakh units in 2011-12. The number of manufacturers has also declined from 65 to 10 and might dwindle further if the plan is not implemented on time, it said.

The decrease in sales also cost a number of jobs and can put capital of more than ₹1,000 crore at risk. However, it is expected that 2.5 to 3 lakh new jobs could be created, if the plan is put into action.

On electric rickshaws, Gill said that it had the potential to change Government landscape through cleaner and efficient transport.

But, at the same time, the Government should keep a check on its unchecked growth, fearing that a third of Indian roads would be choked by these e-rickshaws in the next three-four years, he added.

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