Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 18

The HP Electric Vehicle Policy-2019 aims at making Himachal a model state for cent percent transition to electric vehicles (EV) by 2030.

This will provide sustainable, safe, eco-friendly, inclusive and integrated mobility to the public. The government has also set up a high-power committee for monitoring implementation of this policy and for development of procedures and modalities.

Chairing a meeting of officials here today, Chief Secretary Shrikant Baldi said the vision of this draft policy was to achieve 100 per cent transition to electric vehicles by 2030 in the state. This target was in line with the United Nation’s sustainable development goals and vision of the Central government, he said.

Baldi said objective of the policy was to save environment and promote sustainable transport system. “There will be a shift from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles. The objective is to encourage use of hybrid electric vehicles by the government entities during the transition period. This will create fresh employment opportunities,” he said.

Baldi said the policy would promote adoption of EV technology by way of providing fiscal and non-fiscal incentives. This would create dedicated infrastructure for charging of EVs through various incentives as per standards notified for Public Charging Infrastructure by the Ministry of Power, Government of India, guidelines.

Baldi said a viable business model would be developed for private players to set up EV charging stations and infrastructure. There would be provision for charging spots in commercial buildings such as hotels and shopping malls.

Domestic rate of power will be charged if electric vehicle is charged at domestic user facility. “Non-domestic, non-commercial rate will be applicable in public charging facility and commercial charging stations,” he said.

The HP Electricity Regulatory Commission would be the final authority to determine the rate of electrical power to EV charging stations from time to time.

He said the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board Limited had been designated as the state nodal agency for setting up charging infrastructure in the state.