Administration Fails to Subsidize Electric Vehicles
Abrar A. Mattoo
SRINAGAR : While no doubt that the Central government has incentivized the purchase of electric vehicles, with a lack of electric policy; the government of Jammu and Kashmir has failed to facilitate the transition from fuel-run vehicles to BEV (Battery Electric Vehicles) in the union territory.
Over 15 Indian states have finalized or are in the process of finalizing Electric Vehicle policies that support the national electric mobility policies like Fame I, II, and National Mission on Electric Mobility. These policies, which are primarily based on the vision, mission, and goal, are likely going to accelerate the transition from fuel-based vehicles to BEV (Battery Electric Vehicles) in these states.
“I believe if we had a proper electric vehicle policy at a place in Jammu and Kashmir, in five-to-six years, we would replace the fuel run transport with electric vehicles,” Mohammad Junaid, owner Global Motors Bemina, lone suppliers of Hero Electric Motors in Jammu and Kashmir, said while speaking to Kashmir Despatch.
Some primary benefit of having an Electric vehicle Policy is that it aims at incentivizing the purchase of BEVs by the end consumers. It provides waivers like registration fees and other charges to end consumers and focuses on building a robust network of electric charging units. Additionally, the state Electric vehicle policies also envision making the respective state a preferred destination for EV and component manufacturing.
Although there are various central schemes, missions, and policies like Fame I, II, and National Mission on Electric Mobility at a place that aims to transform the Indian transport in coming years, In Jammu and Kashmir, these are not substantiated by any local policy.
The forty electric buses that ply on the roads of Jammu and Kashmir were also granted to the union territory under the FAME I scheme. Jammu and Kashmir have no policy of its own that would have facilitated the larger purchase of electric vehicles. Although under these schemes, there is an ambitious target to achieve 6-7 million sales of hybrid and electric vehicles year on year from 200 onwards in the country, 15 Indian states have drafted the electric vehicle policies of their own. The states have their own goals and own missions.
Under its Electric Vehicle policy, Kerala aims to have a fleet of ten-lakh electric vehicles by the end of the year 2022.
The cost of electric vehicles is nearly 10-25 percent less in the Indian states that have imposed an Electric Vehicle policy. In Gujrat there is a subsidy cap of 40 percent on the retail price of the vehicles, and this incentive is over and above the FAME II subsidy, making the cost of an electric two-wheeler (up to 2kW) cheaper by almost Rs 50,000 in the state.
“The cost of Hero Optima Double Battery Motorcycle is Rs. 74640 in Jammu and Kashmir, while the same vehicle is priced at Rs. 58980 in Gujrat, because the government pays a higher subsidy on electric vehicles in the state. In Jammu and Kashmir, the UT administration does not bear any subsidy for the end-consumer on purchase of an electric vehicle, therefore, the result is a lack of enthusiasm towards buying electric vehicles. Additionally, there are no installed charging points in the Union Territory, which adds to the range anxiety of potential buyers. The government of Jammu and Kashmir should think about this issue, because it’s important, and because other states are doing so,” Mohammad Junaid added further while speaking with Kashmir Despatch.
It’s important to note here, that environmentalists are voicing serious concern about the air quality in Jammu and Kashmir as well, especially in Srinagar where the index sometimes soars to a lethal level in the spectrum of P.M 2.5 to P.M 10, therefore, electric vehicles may provide a significant breather in this regard.
“It is important that the state of our air, or earth’s atmosphere altogether, prompt the administration of Jammu and Kashmir to come up with an electric vehicle goal/policy like other states have. Since Jammu and Kashmir heavily relies on tourism and are very eco-fragile, I am simply surprised that our administration has not lightened up on this issue until now,” a reputed environmentalist from cluster university Srinagar said on condition of anonymity.
However, when Kashmir Despatch attempted to reach various officials to answer for the lack of Electric Vehicle policy in Kashmir, they could not add anything substantial on the subject due to the lack of it. Naturally, it remains to be seen whether to save the future of mankind, Jammu and Kashmir would play its part and frame an Electric vehicle policy on a dream, goal, and mission basis.
