PUNE: Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad feature among the top 10 cities with the highest number of electric vehicle (EV) registrations in the country.
According to the data from the National Informatics Centre, Pune stands third among 10 cities with highest number of EV registrations, ahead of Mumbai and Chennai. Mumbai occupies the 7th spot, Chennai 8th, while Pimpri Chinchwad is at the10th spot in terms of EV registrations. However, Pune has just 129 public charging stations and Pimpri Chinchwad 23. Fewer e-charging stations has prompted EV owners and manufacturers to stress on government action to increase their numbers.
“Of all the 53 RTOs in the state, the Pune RTO has recorded the highest number of EV registrations followed by Pimpri Chinchwad RTO. The state government is working on increasing the number of charging stations gradually,” a department official said. As per the existing regulations, EVs running on or below 25kmph speed don’t need to be registered in the state. Manufacturers said that the actual number of EVs, therefore, will be much higher than the registration figures. “The actual numbers will be high, not just in Pune but in other cities as well,” Sunil Chacko, president (dealer retention and training) at Wardwizard Innovation and Mobility Limited, told TOI.
Kunal Khemnar, additional commissioner, PMC, said the work order pertaining to setting up 500 e-charging stations had been awarded to a Pune-based company.
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