Concerned over high vehicular emissions, Himachal plans to promote electric vehicles by creating zero or low emission zones in Shimla, Baddi, Dharamsala and eco-sensitive areas in all tourist destinations where only battery-operated vehicles will be allowed.
The Himachal Electric Vehicle policy is being formulated. The state has around 19 lakh registered vehicles, including nine lakh two-wheelers. As the prices of most of the electric vehicles are high, the government is keen to provide some subsidy or incentive but this may not be possible due to severe financial constraints it is facing.
Himachal is amongst the first states in the country to run battery-operated electric vehicles following the (NGT) rap over high vehicular emissions causing environmental damage in the ecologically-fragile Rohtang area and its Glaciers. Some private individuals are running electric auto-rickshaws in border areas such as Baddi, Nalagarh and Paonta Sahib, as they are cost efficient with low running cost and practically require no maintenance.