The road to e-vehicles

The road to e-vehicles

News:

1. Jharkhand government is planning to introduce electric vehicles (e-vehicles) for official use.

Important Facts:

2. The Jharkhand  government is acquiring electric vehicles in phases and setting up charging stations at several places for e-vehicles.
3. Need for e-vehicles

• The soaring fuel prices and spectre of climate change looming large over the planet the government is taking the lead in switching to e-vehicles.
• It is also in sync with India’s strong pitch in favour of electric vehicles at the recently held Global Mobility Summit in New Delhi.

• Electric vehicles are also an integral component of smart cities within the frameworks of smart transportation.

4. Impact of promoting e-vehicles

• If other States and the Centre were to follow the example set by Jharkhand, it would have two positive spin-offs:
• First, it would encourage the spread of a transportation infrastructure specific to e-vehicles.
• Second, it would spur the early adoption of e-vehicles by first-time buyers, generating consumer momentum for India’s stated goal of ensuring that by 2030, all public transport and 30% of private vehicles are electric.

5. Way Forward

• The government needs to speed up the formulation of rules for e-vehicles as a category
• An India-specific road map needs to be bought to smoothly transit towards e-vehicles.