Government Invites Tenders For Electric Cars and Charging Stations

The Government of India in an effort to reach their goal of 100% electric vehicles by 2030, has invited tenders from electric vehicle (EV) makers for up to 10,000 EVs. These cars will reportedly be released in the National Capital Region (NCR,) within the next six to eight months.

Tata Motors, Renault, Hyundai, Nissan, Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra & Mahindra have already shown interest in collaborating with the government for this project. Along with a tender for 10,000 electric cars, the government is also looking to invite bids for close to 4000 charging stations in Delhi NCR.

State owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd., (EESL) has invited global bids for electric vehicles which will also be used by government departments. EESL will buy the electric vehicles in two phases as a part of a bigger initiative. A news daily reported the government aims at putting more than 1 million electric three wheelers and 10,000 electrically powered city buses on the country’s roads by mid 2019.

Speaking about the development, Managing Director at Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), Saurabh Kumar said they will initially start small and scale up the program later. “We are testing a business model. This is a signal to the industry that government is serious about it. And 10,000 EVs is just the starting,” he added. According to sources, the electric rickshaws will have a speed limit below 25 KM per hour and will be able to seat four passengers excluding the driver. The electric autos will be able to cover larger distances with a speed limit of 45 KM per hour.

These vehicles will be procured by EESL and leased out to aggregators to be deployed in the market. The bidding on the tender will be conducted on September 25 and the tender will be awarded on 30 September. Piyush Goyal recently announced that their aim was to make India the first country of its size to have 100 per cent electric cars by 2030.