LUDHIANA: After the Punjab government’s announcement of the draft Electric Vehicle (E-vehicle) policy, a leading city industrialist suggested that registration of E-rickshaws be made mandatory.
Onkar Singh Pahwa, MD, Avon Cycles Limited said, “We appreciate the proposed E-vehicle policy of the state government and have recently submitted several suggestions to give a fillip to E-vehicle manufacturing industry of Punjab based in Ludhiana. Our foremost suggestion is to make it mandatory to register E-rickshaws in Punjab, as this will not only help in regularisation of the E-rickshaws but also help prospective buyers get low-rate financing from banks. Banks do not provide without registration. As a result, buyers have to look for alternatives like private financing, where they are charged 24 per cent to 36 per cent interest.”
He recommended subsidy for low speed two-wheelers saying that two-wheelers which have speed below 25 kilometers per hour are currently not covered under any subsidy. According to him, incentives to this category would lead to increased sales as it is favoured by women and senior citizens.
“We are also of the view that the state government should consider giving extra benefit and incentive on purchase of Punjab-made E-vehicles. We hope that these suggestions will be implemented by the state government to give new direction to the E-vehicle manufacturing industry in state,” he said. D S Chawla, president, United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association, said that the state’s focus on sale of E-vehicles would give opportunities to the bicycle industry, which is equipped to manufacture parts of E-vehicles.
Under the draft E-vehicle policy, vehicle owners will get financial incentive up to Rs 10,000 whereas first 10,000 buyers of electric autorickshaw and e-rickshaw will get financial incentive up to Rs 30,000. First 5,000 e-cart buyers will get incentive of up to Rs 30,000 and first 5,000 buyers of light commercial vehicles will get incentive between up to Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000.
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NDMC vice-chairperson Satish Upadhyay said the charging stations for four-wheelers can be used by everyone by paying Rs 10 per unit of electricity. People who want to use the facility to charge their four-wheelers can book a slot online through the app “Electreefi”.