Electric-run vehicles get Cabinet boost

New Delhi: Moving swiftly towards achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement, under which India endeavours to lower emission levels by 33 per cent and increase share of non-fossil based power generation capacity to 40 per cent by 2030, the Centre plans to set up a mission on electric mobility. 

A Cabinet note mooting the proposal has already been finalised and will be soon sent to the ministries concerned for their views. The mission will advise the government to adopt energy efficient electric-based passenger transport system for the future.

Highly placed sources informed this newspaper the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) initiated the move to set up a mission on electric mobility, based on the suggestions given by a Niti Aayog report on transformative mobility solutions for future. This report was submitted to the PMO in Ms May this year.

The report suggested India can save 64 per cent of anticipated passenger road-based, mobility-related energy demand and 37 per cent of carbon emissions in 2030 by pursuing a shared, electric, and connected mobility future. 

Some of the other recommendations by the Niti Aayog report include merger of toll plazas for normal vehicles, making them adaptable for electric vehicles also. It has also proposed incentivising greater usage of battery-operated vehicles, which will help save petrol and diesel. 

However, there are concerns as India lacks availability of lithium batteries, which are required for the purpose. Sources privy to developments informed the mission would be led by a director.

The mission is being set up to implement electric-based mobility system in the country on “mission mode”, and it will also play the role of an advisory body for the Centre on the same.

The Centre is keen on expediting Cabinet clearance for the mission and while the Cabinet note is ready for circulation among ministries like transport, power and finance for their views, which would be later incorporated, it could be finalised and brought before Cabinet before the end of this year, sources informed.

The urgency being shown by the Centre to set up the mission has emanated from the fact that on October 2, 2016, India had ratified the Paris Agreement, under which New Delhi has committed to reduce emission levels by 2030. Setting up of the mission would help achieve a substantial part of these commitments, sources said.

Complying with Paris pact

• The mission is being set up to implement electric-based mobility system in the country
• India plans to lower emission levels by 33% and increase share of non-fossil power generation to 40 per cent by 2030
• A Cabinet note mooting the proposal has already been finalised and will be soon sent to the ministries 
• The Centre is keen on expediting Cabinet clearance for the mission