The State Industries Investment Promotion and Commerce Development has asked the private and omni bus operators to shift to electric buses or e-buses. It is known that the State Industries Investment Promotion and Commerce Development has been getting ready to revise the TN Electric Vehicle Policy to update with the recommendations of the State Planning Commission. In the year 2019, the existing e-vehicle policy was released.
Just a few days back, a roundtable stakeholders meeting took place and the request on framing recommendations to electrify public transportation was made. It is learnt that the meeting was organised by Guidance TN which is the nodal agency for investment promotion and single window facilitation.
The meeting saw the presence of many private as well as omni bus operators plus representatives from the associations of travel agencies. It is known that these travel agencies operate staff buses for many private organisations etc. A request about shifting to e-buses was made by the government to the associations and it also assured to provide the necessary infrastructure.
One representative who took part in the meeting spoke about how the requirement for the industry for making the shift was also discussed.
Availability of fast charging facilities:
Mr. A. Anbalagan, president, All Omni Bus Owners Association gave a representation to the Guidance Tamil Nadu during the meeting. The representation requested for the availability of fast charging facilities on all the National as well on the state highways. Information gathered is that the representation also urged the govt to provide capital incentives to a maximum of 25%. Long term support from the battery manufacturers was very much required.
In August 2022, the central govt hAs announced carbon credit rules to the vehicle operators. It is worthy to note that each bus would get 22 carbon credits per year. It is important to know the monetary value equivalent to 22 carbon credits. It must be mentioned in the EV policy also. This was mentioned in the representation.
On 30th December, waiver on the bus permit fees and road taxes for EV would end and the association had requested the govt to extend the waiver by 5 more years. For the inclusion of hydrogen vehicles in the EV policy a request was made also. In 2019, AIADMK govt announced EV policy and the present DMK govt is revising it after taking into account various departments in production and use of the electric vehicles.