As many as 139 electric vehicle charging stations have been set up byIndian OilinAssamsince 2020-21 to meet the countrys net zero emission target by 2070. Altogether, 270 such stations have been set up across the NE region.
Setting up the stations will encourage people to shift towards electric vehicles and in that way, we together will be able to reduce the Carbon Emission sooner. Net zero emission by 2070 is a target set up by the Central government. However, we believe that if we move in tandem, then we will be able to make zero emission by 2046, which would be 100 years of Independence, he added.
Apart from 139 EV charging stations in Assam, 33 have been set up in Manipur, 31 in Tripura, 27 in Arunachal Pradesh, 26 in Meghalaya, 12 in Nagaland and two inMizoram.
The Assam government brought Electric Vehicle Policy in 2021 and Vehicle Scrappage Policy last year with a view to promote EVs, converting the government vehicles and public transport to EVs by 2030 and scrapping the vehicles reaching 15 years of age.
The electric vehicle policy seeks to encourage rapid adoption of electric vehicles in a manner where they contribute to 25% of all new vehicle registrations by 2026. However, lack of enough charging stations has been the biggest stumbling block in the transition to EVs.
In order to attract people towards EVs, the announced an incentive of Rs 20,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 1,50,000 for two wheelers, three wheelers and four wheelers respectively for early adoption of EVs. Exemption or reimbursement of registration charges and road tax on electric vehicles for 5 years will also be provided as per the policy.