ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS?

 

The pollution in the country is on the rise as days progresses and a serious concern in reducing the emission level by way of promoting electric vehicles in place of petrol/diesel run vehicles.

Energy Efficient Service Limited, a joint venture between public sector units under ministry of Power, decided to purchase 250 long range electric vehicles from Hyundai Motor India Ltd and Tata Motors Ltd for use by government officials.  South Korean car maker Hyundai Motors India Ltd will supply 100 Nos of electric sport utility vehicle Kona and 150 Nos of electric variant compact SUV Nexon from Tata Motors Ltd.

Three years back, Energy Efficient Services Ltd had dcided to buy 10,000 units of electric vehicles from Tata Motors Ltd and Mahindra Motors Ltd but the order was not through for reasons such as very little demand, non-availability of charging stations and range related issues of electric vehicles.

Energy Efficient Services Ltd will buy Tata Nexon at Rs.14.86 lakhs each after a discount of Rs.13,000/- than its ex-showroom price of Rs.14.99 lakhs.  Higher range of Hyundai Kona will be purchased at 11% lower price of Rs.21.36 lakhs with a standard three year warranty.  The existing fleet of petrol and diesel vehicles will be shown the door and these electric vehicles will take their places.

The Central Government headed by Mr Narendra Modi has been promoting usage of electric vehicles in order to minimise pollution in major cities and dependence on crude oil.  Even domestic vehicle manufacturers have been emphasised about the purpose of electric vehicles and further stressed on them in developing charging stations.  The startup manufacturers should follow suit.  Electric vehicles will reduce the burden of depending on oil imports while promoting additional power capacity.  The energy security, thus, will go up and reduce in green house gass emissions from the transport sector.  An executive from the Energy Efficient has been working on establishing electric vehicle charging stations which will be a booster to EV sales.

With a serious initiative like this, a gradual migration to EV from the existing petrol/diesel concept will take place keeping our areas pollution free to a greater extent possible.