HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MAHARASHTRA ELECTRIC VEHICLE POLICY 2021
The announcement of Maharashtra State Electric Vehicle Policy 2021 is a timely and laudable step by the Government of Maharashtra in the wake of the implications of climate change being faced by all nations including India. While it compliments central govt. FAME II initiative) and creates a platform for development of electric vehicle ecosystem within the state, it does reveal Government’s commitment towards fulfillment of its duty towards air quality improvement , developing clean energy and energy security, reducing noise pollution, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring good health and well being, and promoting innovation in industrial arena all of which relate to the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Salient Features
As a policy, the State strives to ensure faster adoption of sustainable and clean mobility solutions and transform Maharashtra into a leading statef9r EV adoption. Maharashtra envisions to be the leading manufacturing and investment hub for the EV ecosystem at the global level.
The primary quantified objectives of Maharashtra EV Policy 2021 include accelerated adoption of Battery Electric Vehicles in the state so that they contribute to 10% of new vehicle registrations (~ 3 Lakh vehicles /yr) by 2025; achievement in the six targeted urban agglomerations in the state (Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad Nashik & Amravati), 25% electrification of public transport and last-mile delivery vehicles by 2025; development of Charging infrastructure (~ 2500 nunber of charging stations) in 7 major urban agglomerates (Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nashik, Amravati and Solapur) and 4 major highways (Mumbai – Pune, Mumbai – Nashik, Mumbai – Nagpur, and Pune - Nashik); and ensuring that from April 2022, all new govt. vehicles will be electric vehicles.
Proposed Incentives
The incentives address both demand ( vehicles and charging infra.) as well as supply side’s needs and also have a non-fiscal component.
Demand side Incentives
These include incentives in addition to FAME II (Govt. of India) incentivization on vehicle battery size at Rs. 5,000/kWh and based on number of vehicles registered in Maharashtra is planned for manufacturers for one lakh 2-wheelers, twenty-five thousand 3-wheelers, twenty thousand 4-wheelers, and one thousand public transport buses; early-bird Incentives of Rs. 5,000/kWh applicable for 2W, 3W and 4W till 31st Dec. 2021; additional incentive for 2w and 3w only upto Rs. 12,000 per vehicle for vehicle offering battery warranty for min. 5 yrs and assured buyback upto 5 years; and scrappage incentives (Rs. 7,000 to 25,000) for 2W, 3W and 4W. The developers of charging infrastructure will also get incentive whereby slow Chargers (15,000 nos) get incentives upto Rs. 10,000 per charger and Fast Chargers (500) get incentives upto Rs. 5,00,000 per charger. Urban local bodies will be directed to 8dentify the charging locations and encouraged to provide property tax rebates to residential owners for installing private charging infrastructure within their premises while PWD / MSRDC will identify locations for charging infrastructure installation along highways.
Supply Side Incentives:
All the benefits under ‘D+’ category of mega projects will be provided to these industries irrespective of location of manufacturing unit in the state.
Non-fiscal Incentives:
The road tax exemption for electric vehicles is proposed under the Maharashtra EV policy. The policy also looks into the aspect of providing parking facilities as a special gesture and accordingly the property developers will be mandated for minimum. Unified charging system utility app for end consumer will be developed. Mandatory EV ready parking 20% in residential, 25% in institutional and commercial complexes, and 100% in Government offices.
Maharashtra, by rapid adoption of zero-tailpipe-emission and silent vehicles, is going to be the pioneer in the country in contribution towards tackling environmental issues and climate change.