Indian Government Proposes No Registration Charges for Electric Vehicles

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is considering a revolutionary step by waiving off the registration charges of electric vehicles in the country. The step can be beneficial for the entire industry as more buyers will consider buying an electric vehicle once the high amount charged by the registration authority is not applicable to such vehicles.

The efforts to promote electric mobility are not just limited to this proposal as brands which are complying with the FAME II scheme are being offered with a decent amount of subsidy by the Indian government. However, the conditions for the scheme are now stricter than ever to bring a good return on the investment.

The battery-operated vehicles emit zero gases and thus, they are proposed to be exempted from the registration charges on new as well as renewal of registration of the existing vehicles. The same will apply to both two and four wheelers, making the new products more attractive in comparison to their petrol-powered counterparts.

The details over the use of fully electric vehicles for commercial use and waiver of registration are yet to be revealed as the conditions under which the RC charges are waived can include personal use of the vehicle only. This will only be clear once the notification is confirmed as an update by the ministry.

Brands are preparing their electric cars for personal use as the Maruti WagonR and Mahindra KUV100 will be one of the first to feature a fully-electric drivetrain. Mahindra already offers E-Verito for personal use and Hyundai Kona will serve as the premium product with a powerful electric motor under the hood.

MG Motor will bring eZS as their electric product while premium brands like Mercedes, Audi, and BMW could also consider options once the registration charges are waived off for this segment. The Indian government is planning to shift the entire city-specific products to electric power by 2025 and complete automobile industry by 2030.