Maharashtra Government Announces 2021 Electric Vehicle Policy

• Published On: 14 July 2021
• 100 Views

Aaditya Thackeray, Cabinet Minister for Tourism and Environment, Government of Maharashtra released the new EV policy

The Maharashtra government has announced its new electric vehicle policy (EVP) with a myriad of benefits and incentives for the buyers. Aaditya Thackeray, Cabinet Minister for Tourism and Environment, Government of Maharashtra and Sanjay Bansode, Minister of State (MoS) for Environment, Government of Maharashtra along with several top officials from the ministry released the new EV policy. First things first, all the electric vehicles - be it a two-wheeler, three-wheeler or a four-wheeler - will be exempted from road tax and registration charges.

Under the 2021 EV policy, customers are entitled to get benefits ranging between Rs 29,000 - Rs 44,000 on the purchase of an electric two-wheeler. In case of three-wheelers, buyers will receive a subsidy between Rs 57,000 - Rs 92,000. As far as electric cars and SUVs are concerned, individuals will be provided an incentive of Rs 1.75-2.75 Lakhs on their purchase. The state government intends to accelerate adoption of battery electric vehicles in the state so that they can contribute 10 percent of new vehicle registration by 2025. In addition, it aims 25 percent of electrification of public transport and last-mile delivery in six urban circuits by 2025. The EV policy also mentions conversion of 15 percent of the existing fleet of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses to electric.

The EV policy further states that all the vehicles purchased for the use of state government officials will be electric from April 2022. The state will also develop 2375 public and semi-public charging stations in 7 urban cities and 4 national highways. The state government will provide property tax rebate on the installation of private charging stations in housing society premises. The new EV Policy has set a goal for the conversion of at least 25 percent of urban fleet operated by the fleet aggregators such as e-commerce companies and delivery/logistic partners in the state to electric vehicles by 2025. On setting up a slow public charging station, benefits of Rs 10,000 will be given while in case of moderate/fast public charging station, it will be as high as Rs 5 Lakhs.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Sohinder Gill, CEO Hero Electric & Director General, SMEV said, “The Maharashtra government policy grants us the privilege to reach out to our potential customer base in the state. With the amendment of FAME 2 by the central government and now the individual state policies like this one have only encouraged the adoption of electric vehicles in India. The added subsidies from the government on batteries and overall vehicles apart from encouraging battery makers to invest in the state will only aid to the growing interest among investors and companies looking to make an entry into the manufacturing of parts for the segment. At Hero, we are looking forward to this new phase of Electric mobility that will be driven with the states and the consumers who are looking up to a green, clean mode of transport.”