State-run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd. will issue a fresh tender for 10,000 electric vehicles on Thursday, Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy RK Singh said.
“Per km cost of electric mobility will be 80 paise whereas, the cost for a diesel vehicle per km will be Rs 6.5. So, it makes economic sense to use electric cars,” the minister told reporters at a press conference today. “All PSUs under the power ministry will replace the entire fleet with electric vehicles. We are hiring cars at Rs 20,000 per month,” he added.
EESL had floated a global tender for 10,000 electric vehicles in September last year to replace the government's fleet in line with the vision to switch to 100 percent electric mobility by 2030. The tender was split into two parts — 500 vehicles were to be procured in phase one and the rest in the second phase. Tata Motors Ltd. and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. had emerged as successful bidders in the first tender of the EESL for 10,000 cars.
With these 20,000 electric cars, India is expected to save over 5 crore litres of fuel every year leading to a reduction of over 5.6 lakh tonnes of annual carbon dioxide emission, Singh said.
EESL managing director Saurabh Kumar said that at present, the firm has a demand of 500 electric vehicles in Delhi and laid out charging infrastructure at 150 locations.
It has inked an agreement with Andhra Pradesh to supply 10,000 electric cars from May onwards and another agreement will be inked with Gujarat to supply 8,000 e-cars next week. Besides, Indian Railways has requisitioned for 1,000 e-cars.
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