As part of the revisedelectric vehicle(EV) policy, the state transport ministry on Friday made a presentation before chief ministerUddhav Thackerayfor a gigafactorythe first of its kind in the stateto manufacture advanced lithium-ion batteries. The presentation also emphasised the need to improve the electric-charging station to encourage more people to switch to electric cars and bikes by 2025.
Thackeray was positive about the project and asked for the draft policy to be submitted in the cabinet soon. There are plans to encourage e-charging points in housing societies, government buildings, andMSRTCbus stops, besides petrol pumps and at malls in future. The presentation mentioned over 2,300 charging stations. An official said: Also, incentives are being planned to attract industries from the sector to set up inMaharashtra.
The presentation pointed out that the states share of the countrys EV registrations was around 12% (32,000 vehicles). The2021 EV policydraft targets across urban agglomerationsMumbai Metropolitan Region, Aurangabad, Pune, Nagpur, and Nashikaims to achieve 25% electrification of intra-city public transport and last-mile delivery vehicles by 2025.