The government is working on a plan to build electric vehicle-ready highways on the Golden Quadrilateral, the longest highway network in the country that connects the four major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. The aim is to reduce fuel consumption and vehicular emissions by electrifying intercity public transport.
Vision 2030: PM Public Transport Sewa
The project is part of the proposed Vision 2030: PM Public Transport Sewa, which envisages replacing 800,000 old and polluting diesel buses with electric ones by 2030. This includes 200,000 electric buses for state transport undertakings, 550,000 for private operators and 50,000 for schools and employee transportation.
Electric Highways
The government plans to develop 6,000 km of electric highways over the next seven years. These highways would be powered with green energy-enabled charging infrastructure. The development of electric highways is expected to happen simultaneously with the induction of electric buses, creating an ecosystem for EVs in India.
Benefits for Consumers and Environment
The electric highways are expected to catalyse the development of charging infrastructure, encouraging more people to buy electric cars for everyday commutes. Sales of electric cars last year stood at 83,000 units, shy of the targeted 100,000 mark, as first-time buyers were sceptical of the range and the availability of charging stations for EVs in the country. The electric highways would also help reduce logistics costs and curb emissions in line with COP28 guidelines.
Impact on Economy
The electric highways project is expected to have a positive impact on India’s economy by creating jobs, boosting manufacturing and innovation, and saving foreign exchange on oil imports. According to a study by NITI Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute, India can save up to $60 billion in energy costs and reduce 1 gigatonne of carbon emissions by 2030 by adopting more electric vehicles. The government has also announced various incentives and subsidies for EV manufacturers and consumers under the FAME II scheme and the PLI scheme.