Govt Plans to Make India 100% Electric Vehicle Equipped Nation by 2030
car&bike Team
1 min read
Mar 27, 2016, 05:20 PM
The success for electric cars in India has been largely elusive due to the lack of infrastructure and the high cost of acquisition, which has made these cars a rare sight on our roads. However, you might soon be able to get an electric car without burning a hole in your pocket. In a recent statement, Minister of Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal said that the Indian government is working on a scheme to provide electric cars on a zero down payment option.
The government is aiming to make the country, a 100 per cent electric vehicle nation by 2030. Elaborating on the proposal, Piyush Goyal stated that the government is working on the viability of providing an electric car for zero down payment. While the acquisition cost will be free, people can pay the installments out of the savings on petroleum products. The scheme will be self financing as per the minister and will not need any support from the government or any other kind of investment from other people. The aim is to make India, the first country of its size to have 100 per cent electric cars by 2030.
Also Read: Review: Mahindra e20
Quite an ambitious target, the government is optimistic about achieving the large figure but also acknowledges that innovation and scale will be important elements in making this proposal a reality. Not to forget, the move towards electric and hybrid vehicles will also help reduce fossil fuel dependency, which will help decline oil imports, leading to extensive monetary savings. As a result, the ministry is also working to see if the savings can be monetized to provide cheaper electricity for charging these cars.
The move will trigger a host of manufacturers to introduce electric cars in the country. Given the high costs and almost negligible demand at present, only a handful of electric and hybrid cars are sold in the country. The proposed scheme could see car makers like Nissan, Toyota among others introduce their respective electric offerings. Last year, the government introduced its Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric vehicles (FAME) initiative, in order to provide subsidies on electric and hybrid cars, which encouraged even mass market players like Maruti Suzuki to introduce hybrid technology on their vehicles.
The growing inclination towards environment-friendly fuels has also triggered several domestic start-ups to manufacture electric vehicles, the latest of the lot being Ather Energy. However, it would be too early to comment on how quickly will the government push the proposed scheme into place. A meeting in the first week of April is said to be held on the matter, in order to see if the ambitious scheme can, in fact, be pushed into place.
The government is aiming to make the country, a 100 per cent electric vehicle nation by 2030. Elaborating on the proposal, Piyush Goyal stated that the government is working on the viability of providing an electric car for zero down payment. While the acquisition cost will be free, people can pay the installments out of the savings on petroleum products. The scheme will be self financing as per the minister and will not need any support from the government or any other kind of investment from other people. The aim is to make India, the first country of its size to have 100 per cent electric cars by 2030.
Also Read: Review: Mahindra e20
Quite an ambitious target, the government is optimistic about achieving the large figure but also acknowledges that innovation and scale will be important elements in making this proposal a reality. Not to forget, the move towards electric and hybrid vehicles will also help reduce fossil fuel dependency, which will help decline oil imports, leading to extensive monetary savings. As a result, the ministry is also working to see if the savings can be monetized to provide cheaper electricity for charging these cars.
The move will trigger a host of manufacturers to introduce electric cars in the country. Given the high costs and almost negligible demand at present, only a handful of electric and hybrid cars are sold in the country. The proposed scheme could see car makers like Nissan, Toyota among others introduce their respective electric offerings. Last year, the government introduced its Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric vehicles (FAME) initiative, in order to provide subsidies on electric and hybrid cars, which encouraged even mass market players like Maruti Suzuki to introduce hybrid technology on their vehicles.
The growing inclination towards environment-friendly fuels has also triggered several domestic start-ups to manufacture electric vehicles, the latest of the lot being Ather Energy. However, it would be too early to comment on how quickly will the government push the proposed scheme into place. A meeting in the first week of April is said to be held on the matter, in order to see if the ambitious scheme can, in fact, be pushed into place.
Related News
Latest Cars
Upcoming Cars
Latest News
car&bike Team | Mar 9, 2026Inter-State Vehicle Transfers May Soon Not Require An NOCTransfer of registration may become smoother in the near future with the Govt aiming to scrap the requirement of no objection certificate1 min read
Janak Sorap | Mar 9, 2026Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Offered at a Rs 2.89 Lakh DiscountKawasaki India has announced a limited-period discount of Rs 2.89 lakh on the Ninja ZX-10R, bringing down the effective ex-showroom price of the litre-class supersport in India.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Mar 9, 2026Lotus Eletre X Plug-In Hybrid Revealed; Claims Almost 1200kms Of Driving RangeExpected to arrive in June in the global markets, the China-specific PHEV Eletre carries an X suffix. Comes with almost 939bhp and 350 km of electric only range.2 mins read
Amaan Ahmed | Mar 9, 20262026 Hyundai Verna Facelift Launched At Rs 10.98 Lakh; Gets 360-Deg Cameras, Powered Front SeatsAlmost exactly three years on from the launch of the current-gen model, Hyundai has rolled out a midlife update for the Verna that brings more equipment and only a mildly revised look.1 min read
Jaiveer Mehra | Mar 8, 2026Next-Gen Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Interior RevealedSecond-gen GT 4-Door Coupe will debut with an all-wheel drive electric drivetrain.1 min read
car&bike Team | Mar 7, 2026Maharashtra Proposes Double Green Tax, Scrappage Incentives For Old VehiclesVehicle owners scrapping BS-III or BS-IV models may get up to 30 per cent road tax concession, while proposed green tax rates for older vehicles could double.2 mins read
Bilal Firfiray | Mar 9, 2026Citroen C3X Review: 3 Reasons To Buy & 3 Reasons To AvoidThe C3X, with its refined turbo-petrol engine and improved features, deserves your attention. Here’s what works, what doesn’t, and whether it’s worth your money.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | Feb 28, 2026Tata Punch EV Facelift Review: More Range, More Sense, Less MoneyThe Tata Punch EV facelift gets a bigger 40 kWh battery, faster 60 kW DC charging, improved thermal management, and better real-world range, and all of that at a lower introductory price. But does it become a more complete package now?6 mins read
Preetam Bora | Feb 24, 2026Hero Destini 110 Review: Simplicity, RefinedThe Hero Destini 110 is a no-nonsense commuter that is simple, comfortable and above all, fuel efficient. In 2026, when buyers are spoilt for choice, is it good enough to consider?6 mins read
Preetam Bora | Feb 23, 2026TVS Apache RTX Road Test Review: Redefining the Entry-Level ADVAfter spending some time with the TVS Apache RTX in traffic, the daily commute, as well as on open highways, one thing becomes clear: the RTX is trying to redefine the entry-level ADV segment. But is it without fault?1 min read
Girish Karkera | Feb 20, 2026Road Test: 2025 VinFast VF7 AWD Sky InfinityFlagship all-electric SUV from the Vietnamese car maker gets most of the basics right.1 min read