Road ministry proposes exemption of registration fees for electric vehicles

• The government has been pushing to boost the adoption of electric vehicles, as it tries to bring down its oil imports and curb pollution
• The proposed exemption will apply to all categories of electronic vehicles, including scooters, motorbikes, autorickshaws and cars

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed to do away with registration fees for battery operated or electric vehicles (EVs), as a part of the government’s plan to create an ecosystem to enable adoption of such vehicles.

Two-, three- and four-wheelers, which are battery operated, will not have to pay fees for issuing or renewal of registration certificate.

“In order to give a boost to battery-operated or electric vehicles in the country, the ministry of road transport and highways has initiated steps for providing for differential registration fees under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989,” the Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Towards this, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules will have to be amended and the government has issued a draft to receive comments from the stakeholders regarding the same.

“The amendment proposes to exempt battery operated vehicles from payment of fees for the purpose of issue or renewal of registration certificate and assignment of new registration mark,” the Ministry said.

The government has been trying to give push for the shift towards electric vehicles as it will help in combating air pollution, reduce India’s dependence on oil imports, as well as generate employment.

Source: livemint