Gopal Sharma
Electric vehicles or EVs are the vehicles of the future. India is slowly witnessing its growth on roads. Almost all car makers are vying with each other to bring latest variants of these EVs on roads to woo the potential customers. To catch up with this latest development, Jammu and Kashmir UT too is also witnessing an increasing number of these vehicles making their presence felt on its network of roads. The green backdrop of the number plates indicative of Electric Vehicles is catching the eye balls of people.
The electric buses, trucks and several other heavy and light transport electric vehicles besides two wheelers have been introduced in the Indian markets by the Electric Vehicles (EV) manufacturing companies and these vehicles will change the future of commercial as well as private transport system in the country.
The operation of 40 Electric Vehicles in Srinagar and Jammu Cities and their peripheral areas by the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation is a good start in the Government sector in the Jammu and Kashmir. The general public hugely liked this first-ever transport facility in twin capital cities having no noise and air pollution. Having 20 such buses already operating in Srinagar and 20 in Jammu, the JKRTC authorities are contemplating to add more EV buses to its fleet.
According to the opinion of the Sales Managers at several City auto outlets/showrooms, the customers are inquiring about the Electric Vehicles, about their features and price etc, some are even taking test drives as well, but as compared to Internal Combustion (IC)/ petrol and diesel cars/LMVs, the buyers of EVs are still less. The less variety of EVs in the market, its high cost and less number of charging points available in the major cities and towns may be the reason behind it.
Senior Sales Manager, Amit Khajuria at Smam Automart Pvt Ltd (Tata Showroom) at Narwal, Jammu revealed that during last financial year, from April 2023 to March ending 2024, about 91,000 electric cars were sold in India, showing more than 90 % growth as compared to the previous financial year. He said people are turning more towards pollution- free vehicles in the Metro cities like- Delhi, Mumbai, Bangaluru, Ahmedabad etc.
However, the experts in the Automobiles field are expecting 66% growth in the sale of EVs in India this year but the response in this part of the region is not still much encouraging. There are several restrictions in the Metro cities on the old diesel and petrol vehicles and if restrictions from the Transport authorities and Pollution Control authorities are imposed in this part, the people will surely move towards Electric Vehicles, moreover, awareness also plays vital role. He said Tata Tiago, Tata Tigor, Tata Nixon and Tata Punch are coming in EV segment but in Jammu hardly 5-7 % EVs are being sold as compared to 100 petrol-/diesel vehicles per month. Khajuria stressed the need to have awareness among the people on EVs and installation of more charging stations in City’s and towns besides highways.
General Manager, AM Hyundai Motors, Jammu Adil Umar, however, disclosed that as compared to the present cost, the EVs will become more cheaper in next three years and turn cheaper even than the petrol/ diesel cars. The time to charge battery will also reduce to less than 30 minutes with the improvement in the technology. He said presently two vehicles Hyundai Kona EV and Ionic EV are coming in this segment but in Creta segment also Electric Vehicle is coming shortly. He said the Government need to create sufficient infrastructure and give more concession to the customers. He said initial pick up/torque of the EVs is more than IC engine vehicles. Moreover, operational and maintenance cost is almost zero.
Avinash Kapoor, Area Sales Manager, AMG Autocraft Pvt Ltd. Narwal said MG Comet and MG ZS Ev are presently coming in Electric segment. Comet is the cheapest vehicle in the EV segment with starting cost of Rs 7.67 lakh. He said the cost of other segment is about Rs 18.50 lakhs. There is need to lower down the taxes and increase charging stations to facilitate the buyers. Moreover, its battery can be changed after eight years or after running about 1.60 lakh kms. That is some costly affair, but with the introduction of recycling of the battery, it will turn cheater, he added.
Referring to the pick up of the EVs, the ASM said EVs also deliver quick acceleration. But its cost at present is almost double the cost of petrol vehicle. It is due to the high cost of the battery pack displayed under the entire floor of the vehicle and higher insurance value. The car insurance premium for a petrol car is comparatively lower than the EVs. But in India there are no registration charges of an Electric Vehicle this is additional advantage to the customer. The Government is also providing subsidy ( free registration) if one purchase eco-friendly car.
Managing Director of the JKRTC, Rakesh Srangal said that in view of the increasing pollution level in the country and high cost of petrol and diesel vehicles’ operation, the Government of India has issued guidelines to various States and UTs to encourage the operation of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and also provide some concessions to the users of such vehicles. The major advantage of these vehicles is the low cost of operation and maintenance. These vehicles are environment- friendly and much safer for the drivers and the passengers.
“We have received overwhelming response from the general public on the operation of these buses. Even the drivers are also very happy. The demand of these buses is also coming from some other areas of the UT as well. But we have on trial basis operating with 20 buses in Srinagar and 20 in Jammu City and its peripheral areas. We are planning to increase the number of these buses in near future and proposal for the same has been discussed at the higher level and approved,” the MD revealed.
The Managing Director further disclosed that JKRTC has a fleet of 1155 vehicles, out of which 517 are buses and 534 trucks. The percentage of Electric Vehicles with the Corporation is still below 4 per cent. In private sector, specially in respect of Light Motor Vehicles, the response is not so encouraging. “The high cost of Electric Vehicles, less variety in the market at present, much time consuming battery charging process, high cost involved in case of changing the battery and prospects of resale value of the EVs are some of the issues about which the customer is still undecided and also unaware of the real benefits,” he added.
Transport Commissioner, J&K, Rajinder Singh Tara said Government is providing good incentives/ concession to the customer who buys an electric vehicle. Nine percent of the ex-showroom price of the vehicle which is charged as registration fee by RTO is exempted on Electric Vehicles. Moreover, a new draft policy on Electric Vehicles is coming out shortly in J&K with more concessions for the buyers. He said EVs are more suited for the city’s and the plain areas but there is inbuilt disadvantage in EVs as far as the topography of our UT is concerned. Moreover, there is shortage of charging stations here at present. The Government is now focusing on it. After every 50 kms on the highways charging stations are being provided and in Jammu and Srinagar City’s, more such infrastructure is being developed.
“The purpose is to encourage and facilitate public for shifting to EVs and contain the growing problem of environment pollution which is the major crisis world over. It is major threat to the Ozone layer in the atmosphere and the existence of human life on the earth. Major portion of our country’s budget is going in the fuel consumption by the automobiles. It will reduce the extra burden on country’s budget as EVs’ operation cost is zero and zero emission, which is major advantage,” the Transport Commissioner revealed.
Commissioner, however, said that as far as two wheelers or three- wheelers are concerned the response is very good. He said petrol auto-rikshaws have almost been missing from the city roads in Srinagar, Jammu and other major towns, even over 30-35 percent electric two wheelers/Scooties are today running on the roads. This segment has picked up good response, he added.
It is pertinent to mention here that Kia EV9 has won the EV Car of the Year award recently. The EV brands in India presently available are-MG Comet EV, MG ZS EV, Kia EV6, KiaEV9, Tata Nexon.ev, Tata Tiago EV, Tata Tigor EV, Tata Punch.ev, Mahindra XUV 400, Hyundai Kona Electric, Ionic. Ev, Citroen e-C3, Mercedes Benz EQC, Volvo EX90 etc.
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