PMO Increases Efforts To Expand EV Charging Ecosystem

Electric vehicles’ industry is hoping to get clarity on the rollout of second phase of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme within this month. 

Slowly but steadily, the electric vehicles’ industry is receiving support from the government which it had been demanding, with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stepping up efforts to bring clarity in the ecosystem. 

The PMO has taken decisions regarding timely clearance for setting up of charging stations and selective subsidy rollout. 

Moneycontrol reported that in a meeting held in the last week of January, the PMO approved certain decisions, like expediting installation of charging facilities at CNG and petrol station, and specifying timeline within which such stations will be set up. 

Preventive measures
Apart from this, the PMO has asked Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) to give clearance for charging stations which will be chaired by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).

This is the second time the PMO has taken note of the measures being taken to facilitate electric mobility in India. Earlier, the PMO had advised NITI Aayog and Department of Heavy Industries to formulate plan to provide cheaper batteries to car manufacturers instead of providing direct subsidy on car manufacturing.

This led to delay in the rollout of second phase of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme, which provides subsidies to e-car manufacturers. Under the first phase, subsidy up to Rs 1,87,000 are being provided.

As preventive measures, the PMO asked all the stakeholders to increase the number of LNG stations to improve inter-state transportation and of CNG stations for intra-state transportation. Also, it said that all the states that exempt electric vehicles from road tax will be given subsidy. 

Electric vehicles’ industry is hoping to get clarity on the rollout of FAME-II within this month. Last month, Anant Geete, Union Minister for Heavy Industries, had said that the government could finalise FAME-II by the end of February.