Latest news with #EV)Policy
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh admn pulls the plug on subsidy for electric cars as quota runs out
City residents looking to buy electric cars for personal use will no longer receive incentive for switching to an eco-friendly vehicle as the UT administration has announced discontinuation of the subsidy for this category. Reason: The allocated 2,000 slots for electric cars (personal) for a ₹1.5-lakh incentive under the administration's Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, launched in September 2022, has run out. However, citizens can still grab incentives for 4,000 electric two-wheelers and 1,000 electric commercial vehicles, including cars for non-personal use, under the remaining quota. Over 20,000 electric vehicles have been registered in the city so far and ₹34.73 crore disbursed as incentives under the EV Policy, as of October 31, 2024, to encourage EV adoption. As part of the policy, an incentive ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹2 lakh was offered for up to 42,000 vehicles of different categories, including 25,000 e-cycles, 10,000 e-bikes, 2,000 e-cars (personal) and e-cars (commercial), purchased between September 20, 2022, and September 19, 2027. Now that the quota for electric cars (personal), entailing a ₹1.5 lakh incentive, has been exhausted, new buyers will no longer be eligible for these benefits. A senior official of the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST), the nodal agency for implementing UT's EV policy, said a proposal had been submitted to the central government, requesting the transfer of unused quotas for e-cycles and e-commercial vehicles to electric cars. If approved, this move could offer some relief to prospective electric car buyers. The administration has encouraged the public to explore other EV options, including e-cycles and e-bikes, to take advantage of the remaining incentives, the official added. Meanwhile, EV owners in Chandigarh continue to enjoy free parking. To promote EVs, the administration has also waived registration fee and road tax for five years, while owners of vehicles running on conventional fuels have to pay both. The UT administration had launched its five-year EV Policy with the aim of gradually phasing out fuel-powered vehicle registrations to discourage the use of polluting vehicles. However, on November 23, 2023, in response to pressure from various stakeholders, then UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit had lifted the cap on registration of non-electric vehicles, including two-wheelers, four-wheelers and commercial vehicles. The EV initiative is part of a broader strategy to make Chandigarh a 'Model EV City', with a target of achieving one of the highest zero-emission vehicle adoption rates in India by 2027. As many as 24 EV charging stations—including nine battery swapping stations—have been made fully operational across the city.
Express Tribune
21-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Senate body for climate financing reforms
The Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, Thursday emphasized the urgent need for innovative climate financing solutions to address Pakistan's growing environmental challenges. The meeting, that met with Senator Sherry Rehman, in the chair focused on bridging the staggering $340 billion funding gap required for climate resilience, advancing the Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, and addressing bureaucratic hurdles in accessing climate funds. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb emphasised the need for a structured approach, incorporating key enablers such as the National Adaptation Plan and National Climate Finance Strategy. "Green technology is pivotal for sustainability, but clear definitions and parameters are essential for effective monitoring and reporting," he said. He also noted ongoing discussions with the IMF under the Extended Fund Facility, with around $1 billion expected. However, bureaucratic inefficiencies continue to hinder access to climate funds, underscoring the need for streamlined processes.
Express Tribune
29-01-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt employees receive free electricity worth Rs6,000 monthly: Energy minister
Listen to article Power sector employees receive Rs6,000 worth of free electricity each month, Energy Minister Awais Leghari revealed on Wednesday, as the government explores legal avenues to end the privilege. Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, Leghari stated that the government cannot currently halt free electricity for power division and generation company employees due to ongoing legal cases. "We have approached the Attorney General's Office to expedite the resolution of these cases so that we can put an end to free electricity," he said. Leghari proposed increasing salaries as a replacement for free power benefits and noted that the government is working on strategies to provide surplus electricity at lower rates. Discussing solar net metering, the minister warned that it has imposed an additional Rs103 billion burden on regular consumers. "As solarisation increases, the financial strain on ordinary consumers grows, as we are forced to buy expensive electricity through net metering," he explained. The government, he added, aims to ensure that net metering investors recover their costs within four years while managing the impact on general consumers. Govt to auction surplus electricity to industries On Tuesday, Leghari announced the government's plan to auction surplus electricity to industries. This initiative, aimed at stimulating industrial growth and creating employment opportunities, was detailed in a press statement by the Ministry of Energy on Tuesday. According to the statement, Leghari emphasised that surplus electricity would be made available competitively to maximise benefits for the economy and industrial sector. The minister also highlighted the National Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, which seeks to promote the adoption of electric vehicles across Pakistan. He stated that electricity tariffs for EV charging stations had been significantly reduced to make EVs more affordable and accessible. This step, he said, aligns with the government's vision of promoting sustainable energy solutions and reducing environmental impact.
Express Tribune
28-01-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Govt to auction surplus electricity to industries
Listen to article ISLAMABAD: Minister for Power Sardar Awais Leghari, addressing an event in Islamabad, announced the government's plan to auction surplus electricity to industries. This initiative, aimed at stimulating industrial growth and creating employment opportunities, was detailed in a press statement by the Ministry of Energy on Tuesday. According to the statement, Leghari emphasised that surplus electricity would be made available competitively to maximise benefits for the economy and industrial sector. The minister also highlighted the National Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, which seeks to promote the adoption of electric vehicles across Pakistan. He stated that electricity tariffs for EV charging stations had been significantly reduced to make EVs more affordable and accessible. This step, he said, aligns with the government's vision of promoting sustainable energy solutions and reducing environmental impact. Leghari pointed to several other reforms in the energy sector, including efforts to reduce electricity tariffs, eliminate circular debt, and address inefficiencies in the pricing system. He described the current pricing mechanism as unsustainable. Agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), he said, are being revised to ensure transparency and sustainability. Similar revisions will follow for government-owned IPPs in the next phase. The minister announced that by 2025, the government would no longer oversee electricity trade. Instead, consumers and power companies will directly negotiate electricity purchases, fostering competition and benefiting stakeholders. Industrial estates and economic zones, he added, will soon manage their own power distribution systems, reducing inefficiencies and encouraging industrial activity. He also mentioned the ongoing privatisation of electricity distribution companies, noting that efforts are being made to reduce the tax burden on consumers. Discussing coal-based power plants operated by Chinese companies, Leghari stated that these plants would transition from imported coal to locally mined coal from the Thar region. This shift aims to reduce import costs and promote the use of domestic resources, bolstering the local economy. In a separate statement, the Ministry of Energy shared details of Leghari's meeting with US Ambassador Natalie A Baker. Leghari apprised Baker of recent reforms that have improved the power sector. He emphasised the government's policy of appointing independent boards of directors for state-owned enterprises to ensure merit-based decisions. Baker invited Leghari to the Energy Security Dialogue in Washington, emphasising the value of his participation.
