Indian Govt. to allow sale and registration of EVs without battery to boost EV sector.

                                                                                               

BY     AFZAL YOUSAF

Indian ministry of road transport and Highways on Wednesday, August 2020 directed all the states and UTs to allow the sale of electric vehicle without batteries. Experts says that this is a move aiming to accelerate the using of swappable batteries and increase the uptake of electric mobility in the country.

Currently battery is the most costliest part in the EVs, as it constitute of 30- 40% of the total vehicle price. This announcement will drastically reduce the price of  EVs and makes it more affordable for the people to buy.

In the copy of the letter directed to States and UTs states that " For the promotion of electric two wheelers and three wheelers, there are recomendations brought to the notice of the ministry to de-link the cost of the battery (which accounts for 30-40 percent of the total cost) from the vehicle cost". And the letter further states, " The battery could be seperately provided by OEMs or energy service provider".

Earlier, Under the rule 126 of the Central motor vehicle rules, 1989, the prototype of electric vehicle and battery is required for the approval. In this case, MoRTH clarified that vehicles without batteries can be sold and registered based on the type of approval certificate issued by the test agency. And there is no need to specify the make, Type or any other details of the battery for the purpose of Registration.

This new announcement will surely boost the EV (especially Two and Three wheelers) in India, as the price of the vehicle will reduce drastically and become more affordable to common people. They can buy EVs without battery in cheap price and use the service of battery swapping agencies.

But  EV manufactures has raised their concern that how this affect the subsidy as currently subsidy for the EV is along with battery.

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