INTERVIEW : CHETAN KUMAAR MAIN

‘Using electric vehicles can check global warming’

Posted: 2008-02-18 01:26:15+05:30 IST
Updated: Feb 19, 2008 at 0145 hrs IST

Font Size

Feedback

Discuss

: Chetan Kumaar Maini conceived and developed India’s first electric car much before most corporates saw economic sense in being on the right side of the environment. The unassuming Michigan and Stanford alumnus is the deputy chairman and chief technical officer of Reva Electric Car Company. The Bangalore-based company was established as a joint venture between the Maini Group India and AEV LLC, California, in 1994. The first model rolled out in 2001. Today the company is exporting to 13 countries. Maini has led the company from the front. His 15 years of hands-on experience in developing electric, hybrid and solar vehicles have been crowned with two patents. FE’s Rajiv Tikoo caught up with Maini recently. Excerpts:

Electric vehicles are gaining in popularity worldwide today. How is India gearing up?

The government offers a subsidy of Rs 75,000 to state-run bodies, public institutions, hospitals and educational establishments for buying a Reva. Electric vehicles are exempted from paying road tax in five states in the country. Besides, Chandigarh has started offering 15% subsidy on all electric vehicles under its Green Chandigarh campaign.

What kind of measures are other countries taking to promote electric vehicles?

In Japan, an end-user gets a subsidy of $2,600 (Rs 1 lakh) for buying a Reva. The UK exempts electric vehicles from paying sales and road tax. Parking fee and congestion taxes are also waived. Norway does not levy import duty, VAT and road taxes on electric cars. Besides, electric cars are permitted to use bus lanes, which enables them to be driven faster.

So, what more would you like the Indian government to do?

There should be a sustained and consistent policy with a broader vision for promoting electric vehicles in India. The government should support research projects in the domain. Non-conventional/alternate energy products in India attract a VAT of 4%. It should apply to electric vehicles, which are paying 12.5% currently. Similarly, the excise duty of input materials should be reduced to 8% as in finished products. Today CNG and LPG kits are required to pay an import duty of 5%. It should also apply to components for electric vehicles. And the subsidy of Rs 75,000 should be extended to all users, including corporates and individuals. Road tax should be exempted on an all-India basis. The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) offers loans at 2.6% for purchase of solar water heaters. Similar soft loans can be provided for buying electric...

Single Page Format

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - Next

Discuss this story on expressindia forums

Post Comments

Comments: (Limit 3,000 characters)

Name		Message
Email ID
Subject

TERMS OF USE:
The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).

I agree to the terms of use.

Comments

» cars reva

Posted by rajiv sahai on 2008-08-03 16:04:58.710563+05:30
the Government should offer a tax rebate on ladies purchasing the reva car, as it suits their personality. The offices where they work should offer free electric charging for the car, at railway stations there should be dedicated slots to park the reva plus charge it free of cost. All these benifits would attract people to buy electric driven cars and scooters

Reply Forward

» cars reva

Posted by rajiv sahai on 2008-08-03 16:04:58.631632+05:30
the Government should offer a tax rebate on ladies purchasing the reva car, as it suits their personality. The offices where they work should offer free electric charging for the car, at railway stations there should be dedicated slots to park the reva plus charge it free of cost. All these benifits would attract people to buy electric driven cars and scooters

Reply Forward