Himachal Pradesh’s Transport Department reportedly committed to being a “Green Energy State” by electrifying its current internal combustion engine vehicle fleets. The move aligns with the state’s goal of promoting sustainable mobility, per recent reports from established publications in India.
Notably, the move advances Himachal’s EV uptake position, making it the first state to electrify its entire government fleet.
Government initiatives
Himachal Pradesh is set to deploy electric vehicles to all government departments in a year to develop clean and cost-effective transportation in the state.
The report also noted that the government plans to deploy 300 e-buses under the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC). According to a public statement by Chief Minister Sukhjinder Sukhu, a budget of Rs 400 crore has been approved to aid the government’s 2025 target of electrifying HRTC’s entire bus fleet.
Notably, the HRTC has been financially struggling to maintain its 3,500 ICE buses amid the increasingly high prices of petroleum. That said, the official believes that transitioning to EVs will aid the state-owned corporation in reducing about Rs 1.5 crore from its daily spending.
Himachal Pradesh to become first Indian state to replace vehicles with EVs
The government is also reportedly developing plans to launch a new EV policy, which is among the top focuses of the state.
Interestingly, the new EV policy will be focused on helping the state to hit its 100% electrification goal by 2030.
To prepare for that, the policy draft included plans to deploy charging infrastructures in commercial areas such as malls, hotels, and among others.
The new policy is also expected to introduce new incentives or tax credits to further encourage the adoption of EVs in the state. In fact, the policy draft indicated that the government would offer road tax exemption to all EVs, which is required for ICE vehicles under the Himachal Pradesh Motor Vehicles Taxation Act.
With these increased government efforts, it would not be surprising if Himachal Pradesh, a prominent tourism destination, actually hits its set targets towards clean mobility.
