VMC estimates that around 5,000 electric vehicles will hit city roads in the next one year
As the electric vehicle ecosystem of the country continues to grow, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) is now setting up three electric vehicle charging stations in the city.
This comes as more and more people shift towards clean energy mobility options instead of combustible ones. This adoption is being accelerated by the various schemes and incentives being provided by the government and also through efforts of electric automotive makers to make electric vehicles more cost-efficient and accessible to the general public.
VMC Commissioner Prasanna Venkatesh said, “Electric vehicles are the future. We are promoting them in a big way. Many of our officials have been using EVs for years. We have finalised three charging stations with an estimated cost of Rs. 1.2 crore.”
VMC estimates that around 5,000 electric vehicles will hit city roads in the next one year and decided to arrange battery charging and swap stations at multiple locations in the city.
The steadily rising fuel prices are another reason for the shift towards e-mobility to pick up pace. Many small-to-medium companies have entered the EV market with a variety of two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws. Altogether 280 electric auto rickshaws were sold in the city since August 2020 and 430 electric two-wheelers.
KSN Prasad, a marketing employee from the city told Times of India, “The cost of fuel is increasing every day and our salary has remained the same for years. Earlier we ignored electric bikes as they got less range and poor pick-up. But the range has increased to 120 km per charge with lithium batteries and many electric two-wheelers are coming with a top speed of 80 kmph. So, I have shifted to EV.”
