Pune: Union minister of heavy industries, Mahendranath Pandey, on Friday said that the Centre was trying to increase India’s capacity of manufacturing lithium-ion batteries and promoting the use of e-vehicles (EVs).
“Our target is to fulfil the need of batteries for our auto industries by indigenous manufacturing. After self-reliance on batteries, we aim to export them. Numerous initiatives, such as subsidies for manufacturers, have been taken up. It is yielding good results and production has been boosted,” he said.
Pandey was speaking at an event organised by Pune Mahangar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) in the city. Around 90 e-buses were added to its fleet, and a fifth depot for e-buses was inaugurated at the event.
The Union ministry had urged the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to develop technology to reduce charging time for EVs, with a project being carried out for the same now. Pandey also said the expense on batteries can be reduced if they are locally produced. Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and EV (FAME) schemes have been introduced to promote EVs.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eaknath Shinde, who attended the programme virtually, said that public transport should be promoted in the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) area, which has expanded hugely in recent years.
Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said promotion of non-conventional fuel is on the agenda of the state government, for which Pune will be a flag-bearer.
As per PMPML data, out of its 2,000 buses, nearly 600 have been converted into e-buses.