Medium to heavy e-trucks are likely to be a part of a new subsidy scheme — FAME-III — which the government may bring later this year. At present, the price of such trucks are in the range of Rs 70 to Rs 90 lakh, which is expected to decrease by 20–25% after the subsidy.
However, hybrid passenger vehicles may be kept outside the ambit of any subsidy, sources said. The scheme may also include e-buses for nine cities with a population of over four million.
According to sources, the minimum outlay for the scheme is likely to be at around Rs 9,500 crore, with a duration of two years. The structure of FAME-III will broadly be the same as earlier phases.
FAME III will continue to include e-two-and-three-wheelers and the creation of charging infrastructure. The domestic value addition targets will also be there.
Between April-July, FAME has been replaced by an Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) with an outlay of Rs 500 crore. It aims to subsidise electric two-wheeler, three-wheeler, and e-rickshaw purchases by consumers.
FAME-II, which had an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore, and ended on March 31, was able to subsidise more than one million two-wheelers, about 150,000 three-wheelers, and 17,000 odd public transport four-wheelers.
Subsidies in the scheme ranged between 15 and 25% across segments.
