Union Government approves PM E-DRIVE scheme to promote green mobility

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme to promote the adoption of electric vehicles and their manufacturing in the country. The scheme will provide incentives for consumers to buy electric vehicles, which will help reduce pollution and carbon emissions and also boost their manufacturing in the country.

Duration and Outlay of the PM E DRIVE Scheme 

The PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme lasts two years and has a total outlay of Rs 10,900 crore.

Break up of the outlay.

Out of the Rs 10,900 crore,

• Rs.3,679 crore has been allocated for the demand generation of 2-wheelers (e-2Ws), 3-wheelers (3Ws), e-ambulances, e-trucks and other emerging electric vehicles(EV).
• Rs 500 crore has been allocated for the demand creation of e-ambulance.
• Rs 4,391 crore has been allocated for the procurement of 14,028 e-buses by state public transport agencies.
• Rs 500 crore has been allocated for e-trucks.
• Rs 2000 crore for installing electric vehicle public charging stations along selected highways.
• Rs 780 crore has been allocated for the upgradation of the testing agencies.

Who will implement the  PM E-DRIVE Scheme? 

The Union Ministry of Heavy Industries will implement the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme.

Component of the PM E-DRIVE Scheme 

It is a subsidy scheme where the identified electric vehicle will be sold to the buyers at a subsidised price, and the manufacturer can claim a subsidy for the electric vehicle sold.

The scheme provides demand incentives to create demand for electric e-2Ws, e-3Ws, e-ambulances, e-trucks and other emerging EVs.

The Ministry of Heavy Industry will introduce e-vouchers for buyers to avail themselves of the discount under the scheme.

The e-vouchers will be used to buy electric vehicles from the manufacturers, and the government of India will reimburse the manufacturer based on the submitted vouchers.

• The scheme will support demand creation to buy 24.79 lakh e-2Ws, 3.16 lakh e-3Ws, and 14,028 e-buses. 
• The 14,028 e-buses demand generation will be mainly focussed on nine cites having a population of more than 40 lakhs -Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad. 
• 2,100 fast chargers for e-4 Ws, 1800 fast chargers for e-buses and 48,400 fast chargers for e-2W/3W will be installed across the country.