Big Boost To Electric Mobility In India: Govt Allows Sale Of Two, Three-Wheeler EVs Without Pre-Fitted Batteries

In a big boost to electric vehicles (EVs) ecosystem in the country, the government has allowed registration of EVs without pre-fitted batteries, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement on Wednesday (12 August).

In a letter to transport secretaries of all the states and UTs, the ministry has clarified that vehicles without batteries can be sold and registered based on the type approval certificate issued by the Test Agency.

Further, the ministry has said that there is no need to specify the Make/Type or any other details of the Battery for the purpose of Registration.

"For the promotion of electrical two wheelers and three wheeler vehicles, there are recommendations brought to the notice of the Ministry to delink the cost of battery (which accounts for 30-40% of the total cost) from the vehicle cost. Vehicles could then also be sold in the market without the battery," the Ministry said.

"This will make the upfront cost of the electrical two wheeler and three wheelers to be lower than internal combustion engine two and three-wheeler. The battery could be provided separately by the OEM or the energy service provider," it added.

The government is striving to create an ecosystem to accelerate the uptake of electric mobility in the country, it said.

The ministry added that the move will not only protect the environment and reduce the oil import bill but also provide opportunities to sun rise industry.

NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has welcomed the move by the government and said that this would help in sharply reducing the price of the electric vehicles.

He added that the move will also facilitate the establishment of battery swapping ecosystem in the country.