THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: T M Thomas Isaac, Finance Minister of Kerala, on January 31, 2019 said that the government will try to increase the number of electric vehicles on roads to 10 lakh by 2022 as per the state electric vehicle policy.
He announced that subsidy would be provided to 1000 electric autorickshaws this year from the e-mobility promotion fund for which Rs 12 crore had been allocated in the budget.
To encourage e-mobility, 25 per cent tax rebate will be offered for the private electric vehicles for five years while e-rikshaws will be granted 50 per cent tax rebate. The government would introduce e-autos in major towns and gradually only e-rikshaws will be permitted in major towns.
He said that the electric buses tried on the Pampa-Nilackal route proved that the introduction of such vehicles will bring profit to the government undertaking. The State Water Transport Department has already deployed solar boats.