Visakhapatnam pushes the green initiative with electric vehicles

Promoting the green initiative in an attempt to curb air pollution in Andhra Pradesh, the officials have been promoting eco-friendly and electric vehicles throughout the state. While Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu flagged off the “Go Green Breathe Clean” initiative and launched electric bus and car in Amaravati a few months ago, Visakhapatnam too released a few electric cars and has announced the establishment of Electric Vehicles (EV) charging stations.

Recently, the Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) flagged off the first batch electric cars in Visakhapatnam. The cars are supplied by EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Ltd) on a monthly rental basis. The cars came with a service warranty for six years and one lakh kilometres battery warranty from the EESL. Procured at the cost of  ₹12 lakh each, these cars will be used by the company’s officials in the cadre of General Manager and above.

Of the total 20 DC charging stations sanctioned by the APEPDCL, 12 units have been set up the Delhi-based Exicom Tele Systems Limited.

Addressing the media, APEPDCL CMD H.Y. Dora said that electric cars run on electrically powered engines and do not emit harmful gases. He further informed that the EESL installed 15 Amps AC charging points at APEPDCL Corporate office, Circle office, Collector’s Bungalow, Collector’s Office and GVMC.

Earlier this year, Visakhapatnam district collector Pravin Kumar, I.A.S, drove an electric vehicle to travel from his camp office to the Collectorate. In February, CM Naidu flagged off two electric cars, Tata Tigor and Mahindra e-Verito, in the CII Partnership Summit held in Visakhapatnam.