Meet EV deadline or pay up for pollution, govt may tell cos
NEW DELHI: Two- and threewheeler makers in India may be asked by the government to pay up for causing vehicular pollution if they do not meet the deadline to produce electric vehicles (EVS).
The hardening of stance comes after the manufacturers not only failed to adhere to the two-week government deadline to submit their plans to convert a part of their internal combustion engine (Ice)-driven two-wheelers and all three-wheelers into electric, but also sought four months instead.
Federal policy think tank NITI Aayog, which is spearheading the government’s EV initiatives, and the ministry of road transport and highways, among others, have been considering a policy proposal to ban all Icedriven two-wheelers under 150cc by 2025, and three-wheelers by 2023. Nearly 80% of all vehicles sold in India are two- and threewheelers.
At a meeting held on June 21, NITI Aayog had asked executives of two- and three-wheeler makers to prepare a plan of action for the next five years to make the transition to EVS, and submit it within a fortnight.
In case the companies fail to meet the deadline, the government plans to impose the “polluter pays” principle—wherein the victim of pollution has to be compensated and the manufacturer also pays for the cost of environment degradation, said a senior government official on condition of anonymity. The centre is also not averse to further tightening the fuel efficiency norms for transportation fuels such as petrol and diesel, added the official. “There is no question of reconsidering the decision. While some manufacturers have finally come around to the idea, there are others who are trying to lobby at different political levels to delay the inevitable,” said another senior government official, requesting anonymity.
India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, has taken several steps in the past few months in its push to combat widespread pollution in its major cities. The government also aims to trim its hefty fuel import bill through the shift to EVS.
Last month’s meeting at NITI Aayog was attended by executives of top two- and threewheeler makers, including Bajaj Auto Ltd managing director Rajiv Bajaj, TVS Motor Co. Ltd chairman Venu Srinivasan, and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers director general Vishnu Mathur. Even as the companies protested the suggestion, NITI Aayog asked them to spell out their respective plans in two weeks. These companies are yet to respond.
“They were supposed to get back to us in two weeks. Now they (automobile companies) have sought four months’ time... Three wheeler-makers such as Mahindra and Mahindra are ready (to switch to electric mobility). It is only the twowheeler makers—bajaj Auto and Tvs—that are not ready and are opposing,” said the government official cited earlier.
Queries emailed to the spokesperson of Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd on Monday remained unanswered. Bajaj Auto and TVS declined to comment. NITI Aayog did not respond to an email sent on Tuesday.
At the June 21 meeting, NITI Aayog cautioned automakers that if they didn’t take steps to reduce pollution by shifting to EVS, then the courts would eventually step in.
“If the two-wheeler makers are not ready for this transition, they will be left behind as the startups (working on electric mobility) will definitely take the lead,” the official said.