The Karnataka state government will purchase 640 electric vehicles under the Central government’s FAME India subsidised scheme, as per an official statement.

The statement said, “We have received approval from the Department of Heavy Industries to purchase the electric vehicles under the National Electricity Mobility Mission of the Central government’s Fame India scheme.”

Of the total electric vehicles, 40 will be buses, 100 cars and 500 three-wheelers. The Department is giving subsidy up to 60% under the scheme with funds to set up infrastructure to charge the vehicles across Bengaluru, the statement further revealed. The electric vehicles will be operated by the state-run transport corporation.

The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME) India scheme was launched in 2015 to promote eco-friendly vehicles across the country by providing fiscal and monetary incentives for adoption and market creation of both hybrid and electric technologies vehicles. The Phase 1 of the FAME scheme was launched in 2015 and is set to expire on March 31, 2018. In another push towards faster adoption of electric vehicles, the Government of India is preparing to offer incentives to cities with population more than 1 Mn.

The scheme incentivises all vehicle segments, including two-wheeler, three- wheeler auto, four-wheeler vehicles, light commercial vehicles and buses. It also covers hybrid and electric technologies like a strong hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government itself has been on the forefront as far as popularising EV adoption is concerned. In September this year, in its efforts to become the Electric Vehicle Capital Of India, has approved the state’s Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy 2017. The initiative is in line with the union government’s vision to make the country an all-electric vehicle market by 2031.

The Electric Vehicle policy of Karnataka envisions making the state a hub for the production of alternative fuel vehicles, and push the ‘Make In Karnataka’ initiative. It aims to attract investments worth $4.83 Bn (INR 31K Cr) and create around 55,000 employment opportunities. Recently, it was reported that the Karnataka government’s Transport Department is also gearing up to launch electric auto rickshaws in Bengaluru.

While adoption of electric vehicles has still not become mainstream in India, however efforts such as incentivising buying EVs under FAME India scheme and the push by governments such as the one by the Karnataka government will certainly help in increasing adoption at a mass level.

[The development was reported by Firstpost]