Govt may exempt EVs from 15 year ‘End of Life' rule to boost adoption
TNN
.
The proposal was among key action points discussed in a high-level meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and attended by senior officials from Niti Aayog, the road transport ministry, and the power ministry. The meeting was convened amid concerns over the country's slow EV penetration — just 7.6 per cent in 2024 against a 2030 target of 30 per cent.
While EV adoption is relatively strong in the two- and three-wheeler segments and urban buses, progress in four-wheelers and electric trucks remains sluggish. A source said that Niti Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam supported a proposal by road transport secretary V Umashankar that removing the EoL limit for EVs, particularly privately owned older buses, could stimulate fresh demand in the segment.
In parallel, the power ministry is expected to expedite the extension of Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms to cover urban freight vehicles, buses, and trucks — a move intended to tighten emissions control across commercial transportation.
Strategies for EV adoption
There was also consensus at the meeting to pivot away from incentives alone, and instead focus on mandates and disincentives to push EV adoption. One strategy under consideration is to saturate five major cities with electric buses, urban freight vehicles, and para-transit EVs, supported by rapid deployment of charging infrastructure and fast chargers.
Officials stressed the need to localise battery manufacturing, encourage new battery technologies, and address the
high upfront cost of EVs
— particularly for e-trucks and buses — by improving access to finance.
In a follow-up meeting chaired by financial services secretary M Nagaraju, public sector banks raised concerns about financing challenges. They sought standardisation of EV batteries, cost reductions, and incentives to offset the expense of battery replacements — typically required every 6-7 years and comprising 40-50 per cent of an EV's cost.
With the EV ecosystem still maturing in many regions, the government's shift in approach could prove pivotal in meeting its ambitious 2030 electrification targets.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Why India Should Seek Closer Ties With China: Amitabh Kant Explains
New Delhi: India should maintain good relation with all nations including China, former Niti Aayog chief and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant has said. "If India wishes to enhance her manufacturing capacity, then good relation with Beijing is essential "because they are a major manufacturing partner," Mr Kant told NDTV in an exclusive interview this evening. "We need to get inputs, we need to get components, we need to work with some of these companies to become a global manufacturer for the future," he said. Amitabh Kant's comments come ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Beijing for the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Summit -- the first since the Galwan clash. The visit comes amid the imposition of stiff tariffs from US President Donald Trump and increasing pressure on India regarding oil purchase from Russia. There is expectation that under the circumstances, a recalibration of ties with China is expected to act as a balancing factor for the US. Mr Kant, though, indicated that even without the leverage factor, closer ties with China will contribute to India's development. "I think it's important to look at the global GDP," Mr Kant said. The US has about 26 per cent of the global GDP. China is close to about 18 to 19 per cent and Europe, which had about 30 per cent, has slid to 17 per cent. The US remains the only nation that has retained the 26 per cent GDP, has been a beneficiary of free trade, has a market capitalization of 46 percent, with just a population of 4 per cent. But even this post-industrial society has consciously outsourced its manufacturing China. "All its top companies, if you look at the top 20 manufacturing companies of the United States, more than 90 to 95 percent of their manufacturing was outsourced by them to China," he said. "If we need to work with the United States, because they are a big global market, we need to work with China, because they're a major manufacturing partner... We need to get inputs, we need to get components, we need to work with some of these companies to become a global manufacturer for the future," he added. China is Pakistan's all-weather friend, and its support for India following the Pahalgam attack had been dubious. In June, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had refused to sign a joint statement at a defence minister's meet under SCO because it skipped any mention of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives and instead, mentioned Balochistan, tacitly accusing India of creating unrest there. The exclusion of Pahalgam was apparently made at the behest of Pakistan. The next month, though, China issued a strong statement against terror as the US designated The Resistance Front, a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a foreign terrorist organisation for its involvement in the Pahalgam attack. There is also the history of clashes with Chinese troops at the border in Ladakh and Arunachal that had culminated with the Galwan clash in 2020 -- heavily fraying ties between New Delhi and Beijing.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Goa spent just about 50% of AMRUT funds to rejuvenate urban infrastructure
Panaji: Goa succeeded in spending just over half of the funds sanctioned under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 mission to improve water supply, according to data released by the Housing and Urban Affairs. The AMRUT 2.0 dashboard indicates that Goa has undertaken projects under the AMRUT mission in Bicholim, Curchorem, Mapusa, Panaji, Valpoi and Sanquelim. Data shows that the housing and urban affairs ministry approved projects aimed at providing universal coverage of water supply worth Rs 138.35 crore, out of which works worth Rs 70.45 crore were completed. Ministry data tabled in Parliament shows that 48% of the funds meant for sewerage and septage management in the state capital have been spent to date. The Union ministry approved projects worth Rs 21.26 crore for sewerage projects, but state managed to spend just Rs 10.3 crore. The Centre's flagship AMRUT 2.0 scheme was launched in Oct 2021 for a five-year period and is supposed to be wrapped up this financial year. The data shows that Goa submitted utilisation certificates for just Rs 15.76 crore that was spent. The Centre has listed 85 projects under AMRUT 2.0 in Goa. The AMRUT 2.0 scheme aims to improve the quality of life for the poor and disadvantaged. MoS housing and urban affairs Tokhan Sahu told Parliament that assessment and monitoring of work done under AMRUT in the states is ongoing, with a provision for independent review and monitoring. 'In order to fast-track the implementation of AMRUT 2.0, the progress is periodically reviewed and monitored through regular video conferences, webinars, workshops, and site visits,' he said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Over 34L farmers benefitted from central scheme'
1 2 3 4 Jhunjhunu/Jaipur: Union agriculture and farmers' welfare minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said Monday that 34.48 lakh farmers across India—including 9.7 lakh in Rajasthan—benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). "Now, every farmer who suffers crop loss gets full compensation directly into his bank account," he said. Addressing a PMFBY programme in Jhunjhunu, he said, "Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy and the farmer is the soul of nation. Our double engine govt is committed to farmer welfare. TNN Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
