The Union Cabinet has recently approved a comprehensive scheme with an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore to promote electric mobility in the country. This initiative, known as the 'PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme,' is a significant step towards encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and reducing carbon emissions. The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) proposed this scheme, which focuses on providing subsidies and demand incentives amounting to Rs 3,679 crore for various types of electric vehicles, including e-2Ws, e-3Ws, e-ambulances, e-trucks, and e-buses.
One of the key features of the scheme is the introduction of e-vouchers for EV buyers to avail themselves of demand incentives. These e-vouchers are generated through the scheme portal, which will be Aadhaar authenticated and sent to the registered mobile number of the buyer. The e-vouchers, signed by both the buyer and the dealer, are essential for claiming reimbursement of demand incentives under the scheme. Additionally, a significant allocation of Rs 500 crore has been made for the deployment of e-ambulances, showcasing the government's commitment to promoting environmentally friendly modes of transportation.
The scheme also focuses on addressing the issue of range anxiety faced by EV buyers by promoting the installation of electric vehicle public charging stations (EVPCS). To support this, an outlay of Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated for the installation of EVPCS in selected cities with high EV penetration and along highways. This includes plans for installing 22,100 fast chargers for e-4Ws, 1800 fast chargers for e-buses, and 48,400 fast chargers for e-2Ws/e-3Ws. Furthermore, the scheme emphasizes the deployment of e-trucks to reduce air pollution, with incentives being provided to those with scrapping certificates from approved vehicle scrapping centers.