Bhubaneswar: Moving a step forward to protect the environment from fossil fuels, the State Government has initiated a process to hire electric vehicles (EV)s for its use in different departments and agencies for official work.
According to official sources, the Department of Finance has taken steps for fixation of hiring charges of electric vehicles to be engaged/hired for official use by the State Government and their Subordinate Offices including Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
All the relevant parameters like cost of different categories of vehicles that have come to market (such as Tata Nexon EV XZ+, Tata Tigor EV XZ+, Tata Xpres-T EV XZ+, Hyundai Kona, MG ZS EV etc.) , maximum ceiling for monthly running of EVs, battery replacement, charging cost and other costs if any, will be taken into account for fixation of the maximum charge per month, an official said.
The Government is also going to revise the maintenance cost of vehicles, which was fixed long back under Rules Regulating Control and Use of Government Vehicles Use, 1978.
As the cost of spares, batteries, tyres and tubes etc. have increased manifold, so there is a need to revise the maintenance cost of the vehicles, the official said.
The Department of Finance has asked the Department of Commerce & Transport to propose the rates for different EVs and also maintenance costs.
Keeping in view the policy thrust of the Government that by 2030, the Centre has already instructed the Ministries/Departments to switch over to electrical mobility from petrol and diesel cars in respect of vehicles taken on lease/hire for official purpose.
Notably, the State Government has already launched an ambitious EV Policy,2021. Under the policy, the Government is providing a subsidy of 15 percent of the cost, up to a maximum of Rs 5,000, for two-wheelers.
The cap on 15 per cent subsidy for three-wheelers is Rs 10,000, and for four-wheelers, it is Rs 50,000.
The vehicles purchased on or after September 1, 2021 would be eligible for the subsidy. As per the policy, the provision of subsidy would continue till December, 2025.
So far, the State Government has distributed nearly Rs 2.96 crore to eligible 4488 EV buyers in the State.
Out of 16,759 electric vehicles sold in the State following implementation of the policy,5466 vehicles have applied for subsidy. Of which, 4488 vehicle owners have received the subsidy amount, the sources said.
