Lok Sabha Question No. 1890 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-01
Subject: Deployment of e-Buses
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey, Jagannath Sarkar, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Sunita Duggal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1890

ANSWERED ON 01.08.2023

## DEPLOYMENT OF e-BUSES

## 1890.  SHRI RITESH PANDEY: SHRIMATI SUNITA DUGGAL: SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU: SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

Will the Minister of HEAVY INDUSTRIES भारी उद्योग मं त्री be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  has  set  any  priority  deadline  for  the  deployment  of  e-buses sanctioned under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India);

(b) if  so,  the  details  thereof, State/city-wise, including the State of Haryana and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has developed a strategic plan to promote the manufacturing and use of Electric Vehicles (EVs) including heavy duty EVs in the country; and

(d) if  so,  the  details  of the steps taken to promote domestic manufacturing and building of R&D capabilities in the electric bus sector under the FAME India scheme and if not, the reasons therefor?

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIES

## ANSWER (SHRI KRISHAN PAL GURJAR)

(a) & (b): Sir, there is no State wise priority deadline for the deployment of e-buses sanctioned under  Faster  Adoption  and  Manufacturing  of  (Hybrid  &)  Electric  Vehicles  (FAME)  Scheme. However, all the selected cities/STUs for procurement of e-buses have to follow the timeline as given in Expression of Interest (EoI) No. 6(09)/2019-NAB.II (Auto) dated 04 th  June, 2019 issued by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

(c) & (d): Sir,  in  order to promote the manufacture and use of electric vehicles in the country, the Government launched the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme in 2015 on pan India basis with an aim to reduce dependency on fossil  fuel  and  to  address  issues  of  vehicular  emissions.  At  present,  Phase-II  of  FAME  India Scheme is being implemented for a period of 5 years w.e.f.  01 st  April, 2019 with a total budgetary support of Rs. 10,000 crores.

This phase focusses on supporting electrification of public & shared transportation and aims to support, through subsidies, 7090 e-Buses, 5 lakh e-3 Wheelers, 55000 e-4 Wheeler Passenger Cars and 10 lakh e- 2 Wheelers.  In addition, creation of charging infrastructure is also supported to address range anxiety among users of electric vehicles.

Further,  following  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  for  adoption  of  electric vehicles in the country:

- i. The Government on 12 th  May, 2021 approved a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing of Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) in the country in order to bring down prices of battery in the country.  Drop in battery price will result in cost reduction of electric vehicles.
- ii. Electric Vehicles are covered under Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme  for Automobile and  Auto  Components,  which  was  approved  on  15 th   September,  2021  with  a budgetary outlay of Rs. 25,938 crore for a period of five years.
- iii. GST on EVs has been reduced from 12% to 5%; GST on chargers/ charging stations for EVs has been reduced from 18% to 5%.
- iv. Ministry  of  Road  Transport  &  Highways  (MoRTH)  announced  that  the  battery-operated vehicles will be given green license plates and be exempted from permit requirements.
- v. MoRTH issued a notification advising states to waive road tax on EVs, which in turn will help reduce the initial cost of the EVs.

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