In a positive move, the Maharashatra Government has decided not to tax electric vehicles. A formal announcement with this effect will be made soon.
In a statement by Union Power Minister, Mr Piyush Goyel said that he has already spoken to the state’s Chief Minister, Mr Devendra Phadnis and he is in agreement with this move. The state will not levy value added tax, road tax and registration charges on electric vehicles sold in the state. The minister was speaking to journalists at the Mahindra World City, Chennai on the sidelines of the inauguration of a bio-mass plant using waste food.
“We are selling around 8 to 10 electric cars in Mumbai and other districts of Maharashtra.
Across the country, the company sells 75 Reva cars a month.
We can ramp up production of electric cars to 2,500 a month,” said Mahindra and Mahindra executive director Pawan Goenka. Soon petrol pumps in the country will also have chargers for electric cars. “This will help cars on the move to get charged. If entrepreneurs are forthcoming, e-charging stations can be a separate unit which will further reduce pollution,” said Goyal.
Mahindra is also planning to launch electric versions of its sedan and light commercial vehicles by February 2016 in order to expand its electric vehicle portfolio. The company is even testing its e-LCV under real life conditions by using it in Agra to ferry visitors around the Agra.