Karnataka to induct electric buses, auto rickshaws

Bengaluru: The State government is planning on making changes in the permit for rickshaws which are currently running on fuel.

The government is determined on inducting 3,000 electric buses in the BMTC fleet over the next three years, besides looking at how school buses can become electric.

“We are keen on these three areas because that’s where the demand is,” said additional chief secretary D V Prasad, who is chairing a committee tasked with drawing up an action plan to implement the Karnataka Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy 2017.

It has been learnt that Karnataka is among the states where e-rickshaws are not allowed. Also, school buses are required to be registered in the name of educational institutions, which discourages transport companies from going electric.

The policy, on the back of which the government is wooing investors, offers tax exemption and subsidy worth at least Rs 20 crore on a first-come, first-served basis. Along with exemption from all taxes on electric vehicles, the policy provides a reduction in road and registration taxes as an indirect incentive for hybrid and electric vehicles.

The first 100 fast-charging stations for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, cars and buses in the state will enjoy capital subsidy up to Rs 10 lakh per station.