Thiruvananthapuram: As part of its initiative to promote and popularise electronic or hybrid vehicles, the Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd (KSEBL) will invite Expression of Interest (EoI) to set up electric vehicle-charging stations on highways and cities in the state from central public sector institutions or private parties.
The plan is to establish fast e-charging stations every three km in the city and every 25 km on highways. A top KSEBL official told DC that the EoI would be floated this month. “The project is likely to take off in three to six months. Currently, Delhi is the only city having public e-charging stations. They are charging three times more tariff per unit. Our plan is to give power at a unit price of Rs 5.50,” said the official.
Private parties or public sector institutions will be roped in to set up the charging infrastructure on their own or government land. The Kerala government is planning to roll out 50,000 e-autos in the state by 2020.
An official said that the government would provide 25 per cent subsidy for e-autos. “The subsidy amount will not exceed Rs 30,000. Electric bus and e-autos will revolutionise our public transportation system. This is one way to bring down the pollution level. Many public sector undertakings have shown interes,” said the official.
As per studies, 25 per cent of carbon emission in the atmosphere is caused by vehicles. Hence bringing down the number of petrol/diesel engine vehicles is the only way to cut carbon emission.
According to experts, the percentage of carbon emission is likely to double by 2050.
