Sops to drive state's 2025-30 EV policy

Incentives and discounts to cost state ₹1993 crore and toll waiver ₹3000 crore in the next 5 years

- Surendra P Gangan

MUMBAI: After nearly six months of deliberations, the Maharashtra government has finally decided to roll out its ambitious plan to promote electric vehicles (EVs) from May 1. Its last policy, envisioned in 2021, expired in March this year, after falling short on many promises -- primarily an inability to reduce high prices of vehicles and paucity of charging stations.

The new policy, which will hold good for the next five years (2030), received cabinet nod on Tuesday. Many provisions have been made to support and boost its function. There are sops such as toll waivers to all EVs on three major expressways, 50% waiver on other highways, discount in price between ₹30,000 to ₹20 lakh in various categories of EVs, and a robust plan to lay out charging infrastructure on highways and housing societies. (See box.)

The aggressive incentives and discounts however will cost the state ₹1993 crore, and ₹3000 crore towards toll waiver over the next five years.

The policy aims to increase the number of two-wheeler EVs to 40%, EV four wheelers to 30% and passenger electric buses to 15% against the existing total number of vehicles in respective categories in the next five years.