Cabral added that Goa Energy Development Agency will collaborate with CESL to transfer subsidies for every electric vehicle sold
Several states have been accelerating efforts to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and Goa is the next one to be added to the list. The Goa government is looking to bring in EV manufacturers to the state and incentivize the adoption of electric vehicles.
The state government has entered into a long-term agreement with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) to facilitate the disbursement of subsidies for the sale of electric two-wheelers and cars. This is in efforts to achieve the objective of making Goa carbon neutral by 2030, and also restore the state’s fragile ecosystem.
As per environment minister Nilesh Cabral, the government aims to make electric two-wheelers cheaper than petrol-powered two-wheelers while the price difference between a conventional car and an electric car will be reduced from 30 per cent to 5 per cent.
“Goa has the highest consumption of fossil fuel and that is why it is the commitment of this government to bring down fossil fuel ratio down. We have signed an MoU with CESL where they will act as the programme manager for the scheme and disburse state subsidies to OEMs which will be passed to the consumer by reducing the cost of electric vehicles,” said Cabral, speaking on the occasion of World Environment Day.
Cabral added that Goa Energy Development Agency will collaborate with CESL to transfer subsidies for every electric vehicle sold. CESL also has the responsibility to bring in manufacturers of electric vehicles, charging stations and lithium rechargeable batteries to Goa.
“The state’s subsidies are in addition to the subsidy for the scrapping of vehicles and the Centre’s subsidy for electric vehicles. For motorcycle pilots, 50 per cent to 54 per cent of the cost of the vehicle will be subsidised. Plus we are offering a combined subsidy to make Goa a zero-carbon state over the next eight to 10 years,” said Cabral.
This comes after the Maharashtra government recently announced its new Electric Vehicle Policy 2021 to accelerate EV adoption in the state.
