Registration of EVs plying as passenger transport like e-auto-rickshaws, e-taxis and EV buses will now commence in Tamil Nadu.
Published Jun 30, 2023 | 12:38 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 30, 2023 | 12:38 PM
Industries Minister TRB Rajaa at the meet with executives of global EV companies. (TRBRajaa/Twitter)
Tamil Nadu is engaged in improving the electric vehicle charging infrastructure aimed at accelerating the adoption of EVs in the state, Minister for Industries TRB Rajaa has said.
To boost EV consumption, the government also amended a policy thereby allowing battery-operated e-autorickshaws, e-taxis and e-buses to be issued permits by the transport department without a permit fee.
Earlier, permits were not being issued to battery-operated passenger vehicles and those vehicles that run on methanol or ethanol fuel.
In 2018, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a notification that battery-operated passenger vehicles and passenger vehicles driven on methanol or ethanol fuel were exempted from obtaining a permit.
The latest move by the Tamil Nadu government comes in the backdrop of a meeting on 16 June held in Chennai with the Minister for Industries Rajaa, who was apprised by the members of the electric vehicle industry about this issue.
#Chennai is the #auto capital of India, the next step is to make it the #EV capital of the world.
With a flourishing auto manufacturing ecosystem already existing, and an ambitious EV policy released in 2023, #TamilNadu is well on its way to emerge as the world’s largest EV… pic.twitter.com/AWrWYCeZpB
— Dr. T R B Rajaa (@TRBRajaa) June 16, 2023
Accordingly, the government has amended the policy allowing registration of e-auto-rickshaws, e-taxis and private EV buses or passenger vehicles that are driven on methanol or ethanol fuel “shall be issued permits by the transport department without a permit fee.”
Registration of EVs plying as passenger transport like e-auto-rickshaws, e-taxis and EV buses will now commence in Tamil Nadu, an official release said.
“This is an example of how receptive this government is to the needs of the industry. We are able to execute policy changes quickly due to the effective leadership of Chief Minister MK Stalin,” Rajaa said.
Thankful to our Honourable @CMOTamilnadu @mkstalin avargal for his swift intervention in enabling regulatory tweaks which will now help to accelerate the adoption of #EVs in TN. Based on feedback from the #industry, we are also working on improving #EVChargingInfra across TN. All… https://t.co/pNAJgYe3Fa
— Dr. T R B Rajaa (@TRBRajaa) June 29, 2023
This amendment would enable the government to implement its Electric Vehicle Policy 2023 by accelerating the adoption of EVs.
“Based on feedback from the industry, we are also working on improving EV charging infrastructure across Tamil Nadu. All these steps are sure to significantly drive up the demand for EVs in the state,” he said.
On 28 June, transport department principal secretary P Amudha issued an order stating all transport vehicles which are battery-operated, or are driven on methanol or ethanol fuel (except goods vehicles whose gross vehicle weight is below 3,000 kg) shall be issued a permit without a permit fee.
“This (development) has plugged an important policy gap and will facilitate the expansion of EV fleets in Tamil Nadu,” the release said.
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