Massive e-vehicle project to make AP green

Amaravati: In a bid to make Andhra Pradesh 100 per cent green and pollution-free, the state government is aggressively working towards introducing 1 lakh electric vehicles and to create a massive employment of over 1.05 lakh jobs.

As a result of the efforts of the government on the project, a first in the country, the Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) has agreed in principle to invest a capital cost of Rs 10,250 crore in AP with operational investment of Rs 2,000 crore per year for 1 lakh e-cars.

Declaring a war on pollution, AP now aims at emerging as a hub for the electric mobility ecosystem in the country. As the energy source is cleaner and cheaper than oil, driving cost (electricity only) for electric vehicle is Rs 0.89/km, which is Rs 4.40/km for conventional vehicles.  

During a teleconference with Energy Department officials on Sunday, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed the department to prepare a comprehensive action plan to lease and use the electric vehicles in a phased manner.

“All government departments should go for e-vehicles which would later extend to the private sector as well. AP state, which has been ranked number one in the Ease of Doing Business, energy efficiency, promotion of renewable energy sources, 24X7 quality power supply, is now focusing on attaining number 1 position in the world in the usage of electric vehicles. 

“We should create a world record even in usage of e-vehicles,” he said. Principal Secretary (Energy) Ajay Jain told the Chief Minister that after the implementation of the project, the state would benefit in reduction of the cost for leasing vehicles by Rs 3,600 crore with a drop in fuel expenditure with monetary savings of Rs 2,160 crore in turn curtailing the loss of GDP by Rs 500 crore due to CO2 emission.

He further said that a meeting with e-vehicle manufacturers, battery manufacturers, technology providers and public sector departments will be conducted in the third week of March to discuss the roll-out plan for one lakh electric vehicles over the next two years.

In a communication from EESL MD Saurabh Kumar to Ajay Jain, it was stated that “EESL is keen to showcase AP in the world in the area of EV which is expected to create a massive employment creation of over 1.05 lakh Jobs for 1 lakh e-vehicles”.

Energy Minister Kala Venkata Rao, Principal Secretary K Vijayanand, JMDs of APTransco Dinesh Paruchuri and Umapathi, Advisor K Ranganatham, CMDs of Discoms M M Nayak and H Y Dora and APSEEDCO MD A Chandrasekhar Reddy participated in this meeting.