The Central Motor Vehicles Rules (1989) defines “battery-operated vehicles” as a vehicle “adapted for use upon roads and powered exclusively by an electric motor whose energy is supplied exclusively by a battery installed in the vehicle.”
representational image (iStock photo)
The state government on Tuesday exempted electric vehicles (EV) and other automobiles run on alternative fuel from route permit requirements in a bid to boost plying these vehicles to prevent pollution.
A notification issued by the state transport department on 5 October states that a regional transport authority (RTA) permit would not be required for e-vehicles used as public transport or to ferry goods.
According to the notification, owners of “battery-operated vehicles” will have to make a declaration on the Vahan portal of the Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) about the route and the area of plying the vehicles.
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“This notification states that anyone who buys an electric vehicle and registers it as a commercial vehicle will no longer need a permit to operate,” said Rahul Chatterjee, secretary of All Bengal Bus Minibus Samannway Samiti.
The Central Motor Vehicles Rules (1989) defines “battery-operated vehicles” as a vehicle “adapted for use upon roads and powered exclusively by an electric motor whose energy is supplied exclusively by a battery installed in the vehicle.”
“The state government has been pressing for a zero-emission transportation system and this move (permit exemption for e-vehicles) is a step in that direction,” a transport department official said. The MoRTH has already
urged the automakers to focus on manufacturing of environment-friendly EVs and automobiles run on biodiesel, methanol and ethanol fuel.
The demand for EVs could also be created by mandating cab aggregators to induct a certain percentage of such vehicles in their fleet.
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