NEW DELHI: Delhi government on Wednesday signed two agreements with a subsidiary of the central government to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EV) in the national capital.
While the pact will pave the way for the installation of charging and battery swapping stations in the bus depot Cluster Scheme, the others will provide support lending to people to buy electric autorickshaws, e-rickshaws and carts.
According to officials, the transportation department signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a subsidiary of state-owned Energy Efficiency Services Limited, to install charging and battery swapping stations in 14 selected depot.
CESL will “supply, install, operate and maintain the charging unit and associated infrastructure”.
Contracts have been signed for 10 years and all stations will be ready in four months.
Each location will have six charging points – three for two and three-wheelers and three to four wheels.
The location and real-time availability status will be available on the app Delhi The Delhi government.
CESL will integrate solar rooftop systems and storage batteries with a charging infrastructure for the use of renewable energy and reduce the carbon footprint.
Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, who attended the event, said the AAP government takes the lead in the use of land in the depot to enhance and improve the EV charging infrastructure and ecosystems in the capital.
“We are also exploring a variety of ways this non-polluting power stations to effectively reduce the carbon footprint,” he added.
Through another MoU, the government will provide interest subsidy of 5% to buy the selected categories EVS loans.
Officials said Delhi has become the first country to provide easy financing for EVs.
“This agreement will help accelerate the adoption of lithium-ion-based rickshaw electricity, carts, cars and light goods vehicles.
relief is in addition to the applicable purchase incentives and scrapping incentive of Rs 30,000 to Rs 7,500 under the Delhi EV Policy.
Buyers will get Rs 25,000 from the additional benefits, “said an official.
With this MoU, the government has closed down the lending rate charged by financial institutions CESL-empaneled at 20%.
Previously, some FI charging 25-30% interest.