Vizag looks to lead the way in the use of electric cars in the state

The third CII Partnership Summit in Vizag will witness Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister flag off two electric cars-Tata Tigor and Mahindra e-Verito- at the event. The launch of these vehicles, at the APIIC grounds, will help Vizag lead the way in the effort of moving towards cleaner and greener technologies.

Reportedly,  this will be the first official roll-out of such cars in the country. In a joint venture between Delhi based Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of AP Limited (NREDCAP), the state will be getting a total of 10,000 cars in a phased manner from EESL.

“The governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka too have approached the EESL for these cars, but the AP government has taken the lead by rolling out the cars for use by government departments,” NREDCAP managing director M Kamalakara Babu told TOI.

The initial set of cars will be used by the state’s government offices such as municipal corporations, collectorates, and others.

It has also been learned that in addition to Andhra Pradesh, the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat have also expressed willingness to start using electric vehicles.

Can Vizag lead the way?

The central government plans to increase the number of electric vehicles in India by the year 2030. Trying to achieve the same, the state government wants to bring electric cars onto the streets of Visakhapatnam as early as possible.

As a step towards curbing the harmful effects of vehicular pollution, GVMC had already announced the launch of e rickshaws onto the streets of Visakhapatnam. Also, Andhra Pradesh government had signed an MoU with the automobile manufacturing giant Toyota to launch e-Vehicles in the state’s capital of Amaravati.