THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As part of its efforts to popularise eco-friendly electric or hybrid vehicles in the state, the Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd (KSEBL) has set up an e-vehicle charging station at the secretariat here. The KSEBL is the nodal agency appointed by the state government for the promotion and implementation of e-vehicle policy.
It has set up a fast e-charging station on the secretariat premises which would enable the e-vehicle to be charged within 30 minutes. It is learnt that all the government vehicles at the secretariat would be replaced with electronic or hybrid vehicles soon.
As per studies, 25 percent of the carbon emission in the atmosphere is caused by vehicles. Hence bringing down the number of petrol/diesel engine vehicles is the only way to minimise carbon emission.
According to experts, the percentage of carbon emission is likely to double by 2050.
A top KSEBL official said that the government planned to launch 10 lakh e-vehicles by 2022. “The entire city bus fleet in the state capital will soon be replaced with electronic or hybrid vehicles. More charging stations would be set up to promote this. Many automobile companies have started rolling out hybrid vehicles across the country and once we have adequate infrastructure, more people will adopt hybrid vehicles,” he said.
Public charging stations are yet to come up in the state capital. “The one at the secretariat is only for government vehicles,” the official added.
