India works on EV action plan

More than seven Indian ministries have been asked to come up with guidelines promoting electric vehicle use after India dropped the idea of an EV policy.

Instead, the government’s think-tank NITI Aayog has told the ministries to develop the EV guidelines.

It will then put these guidelines together as an action plan for promoting the use of EVs, Livemint reports.

The government had earlier made a surprising U-turn on an EV policy after some carmakers said they were unprepared for an abrupt shift and that government policy should encourage all clean-fuel technologies. The government’s new plan suggests that it will continue to promote EVs, although it may not be in the form of a policy.

“It is a welcome move from the NITI Aayog and some kind of action plan or guidelines will be enough for the industry to move ahead with electric mobility,” International Finance Corp electric mobility head Suvranil Majumder says. “There has to be some synergy between certain ministries of the government when it comes to dealing with certain aspects of electric mobility.”

The ministries that have been asked to formulate guidelines are those of heavy industries, power, new and renewable energy, road transport and shipping and highways, earth sciences, urban affairs and information technology.

While the road transport ministry has been asked to form guidelines on non-fiscal incentives, public transportation and last-mile connectivity in the context of EVs and sustainable mobility solutions, the power ministry has been tasked with framing rules for charging infrastructure.

It is uncertain whether the action plan or final guidelines will replace the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles scheme, which ends March 31.