GUWAHATI, Sept 1 - As the world shifts to Electric Vehicles, the transition to EVs is essential for the Indian automobile industry to continue to retain its foothold and maintain ecological balance. Additionally, this will also help improve India�s energy security by reducing the import dependency for energy, State Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said here today.
Addressing the Assam Electric Mobility Conclave held at Assam Administrative Staff College today, Patowary said, �Electric vehicles also adhere to the government�s slogan of a pollution-free Assam. The transport sector therefore needs to embark on a trajectory in line with the targets of the Paris Agreement to limit global average temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.�
The Minister said electric and methanol vehicles should be adopted for betterment of our future generation and to protect our fragile Earth.
He informed that the Ministry of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping would give 10 new buses run by methanol to the Assam government as part of a pilot project for public transportation, creating a methanol economy as an alternative to high-cost petroleum products like diesel and petrol.
�Once the gas pipeline to Assam is completed, methanol production in the State will increase. Further, Assam Petrochemicals Limited is implementing a project for enhancing production of methanol from 125 tonnes per day to 500 tonnes per day,� said Patowary.
ASTC Managing Director AP Tiwari said 14 electric buses will be procured in phase-I as a pilot project under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME) policy. Special incentives will be provided to operators for using electric vehicles. �Soon, RFP will be floated for purchase of electric buses to reduce diesel buses as well as pollution.�
He said the Transport Department will augment all he suggestions from NTPC, APDCL and other stakeholders in terms of infrastructure development, and battery charging stations to create a policy for an emission-free ecosystem. Earlier in the day, panel discussions on various aspects of Electric Vehicles also took place.
Ashutosh Agnihotri, Commissioner and Secretary, Transport Department; Manoj Kumar, Commissioner, Transport, and representatives from Ashok Leyland and Tata Motors attended the conclave.
