Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh plans to roll-out at least 1 lakh electric vehicles to reduce air pollution in the years to come. However, this is going to be a herculean task in the absence of auxiliary infrastructure such as charging points across the state. It will take at least five years for electric vehicles to run in the state without any hiccups. The state government will invest about Rs 10,250 crore for the introduction of electric vehicles. It aims to save around '2,160 crore in fuel costs through the use of these vehicles.
The state government has decided to procure 1,500 electric cars from Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), which is an agency of the Union Ministry of Power, on a pilot basis. 500 vehicles each will be used in Amaravati, Vizag and Tirupati. These vehicles will be charged at regular plug points in the secretariat, as there will be no separate charging stations.
“The main cause of vehicular pollution is the rapidly increasing number of vehicles. Worldwide, the automobile industry is gradually shifting to more efficient technologies and alternative fuels; electric vehicles seem to be the best bet. Electric vehicles represent one of the most promising pathways to increase energy security, reduce carbon emissions, and improve air quality. World-over, major investments, incentives and policies are being introduced to propagate the development and adoption of electric vehicles, said Ajay Jain, the Principal Secretary for Energy.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh is closely watching the moves of the Union Ministry of Power while formulating a comprehensive electric vehicles policy which will enable the creation of charging infrastructure across the state to promote the adoption of electric vehicles for a pollution-free environment. EESL has procured 10,000 electric vehicles through a tender process; they are being supplied by Tata Motors. It has decided to issue a tender to procure 15,000 more vehicles in the coming year.
The Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB), the single point of contact for trade, investments and partnerships in the state, has signed a MoU with SUN Mobility, for the setup of interoperable electric vehicle charging/swapping infrastructure, which will include their proprietary smart batteries, SUN Mobility Quick Interchange Stations, and a smart network. The project will initially be implemented on a pilot basis in Vizag. This infrastructure will enable the general public to buy and use electric vehicles.
