NEWS –  The Union Cabinet approved the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme to boost electric mobility in India

HIGHLIGHTS

Financial Outlay and Duration

• Total allocation: Rs. 10,900 crore over two years.
• Focus on promoting electric mobility and reducing carbon emissions.

Incentives for EV Purchases

• Subsidies worth Rs. 3,679 crore provided to encourage the purchase of e-2Ws, e-3Ws, e-buses, e-ambulances, and e-trucks.
• Support for 24.79 lakh e-2Ws, 3.16 lakh e-3Ws, and 14,028 e-buses.

Introduction of e-Vouchers

• Aadhaar-authenticated e-vouchers to streamline the EV purchasing process.
• EV buyers can download the e-voucher to avail incentives, enhancing transparency and efficiency.

Promotion of Electric Ambulances

• Rs. 500 crore allocated for e-ambulance deployment.
• A crucial step toward integrating EVs into healthcare and ensuring safer, greener patient transport.

Support for E-Trucks

• Rs. 500 crore allocated for incentivizing e-trucks.
• Incentives tied to scrapping old trucks as part of the MoRTH Vehicle Scrapping Scheme.

Expansion of Charging Infrastructure

• Rs. 2,000 crore allocated for installing 72,300 fast chargers across India.
• Chargers to be deployed in high EV penetration cities and along highways, addressing range anxiety.

Modernization of Testing Infrastructure

• Rs. 780 crore dedicated to upgrading vehicle testing agencies.
• Aimed at supporting advanced EV technologies and ensuring higher safety standards.

Boost to Public Transportation

• Rs. 4,391 crore for the procurement of 14,028 e-buses for public transport.
• Priority given to replacing old buses and promoting greener mobility in metropolitan areas.