20% Growth In EVs Registered In June to December YoY: Minister

Minister of State for Heavy Industries, Krishan Pal Gurjar, mention in a written reply to the parliament that ‘There has been no slowdown in the sale of electric vehicles in the country during the previous two months.’ The statement comes even as talk of removing the FAME 2 subsidy for electric vehicles in the near future, and the recovery in sales after a blip mid-year due to reversal of subsidies had led to worries on the growth of EVs in the country.  

As per the shared data from e-Vahan portal data, shared by the ministry of road transport and highways. He gave a total number of electric vehicles registered in the last 2 years for specified months. As per the details, from the digitized vehicle records, the centralized Vahan 4, there has been an incremental growth in the registration of EVs in the country.

The data shows that, the EV registration of the month of November rose from 1,21,601 to 1,53,022 and this growth trend follows for the previous 5 months from June to December 2023, in comparison to 2022.  

The data for the state of Telangana and Lakshadweep has not been provided as they are not in centralized Vahan 4.

However, based on the available data, he deciphered that, in order to increase the sale of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country, following steps have been taken by the Government:

i. Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India): The Government notified Phase-II of FAME India Scheme initially for a period of 5 years w.e.f. 01st April, 2019 with a total budgetary support of Rs. 10,000 crores.

ii. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Component Industry: The Government on 15thSeptember, 2021 approved the PLI Scheme for Automotive Sector with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 25,938 crores. The scheme provides incentives up to 18% for electric vehicles.

iii. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, ‘National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACC) Battery Storage’: The Government on 12thMay, 2021 approved PLI Scheme for manufacturing of ACC in thecountry with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 18,100 crore.
The scheme envisages establishing a competitive ACC battery manufacturing set up in the country for 50 GWh. Additionally, 5GWh of niche ACC technologies is also covered under the Scheme.

iv. GST on electric vehicles and chargers/ charging stations for electric vehicles has been reduced to 5%.

v. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) announced that battery-operated vehicles will be given green license plates and be exempted from permit requirements.
vi. MoRTH issued a notification advising states to waive road tax on EVs, which in turn will help reduce the initial cost of EVs.