For the first time, the Southern and Eastern Power Distribution Companies of Andhra Pradesh (A.P) have proposed a power tariff of ₹6.95 per unit for electric vehicles as part of their Annual Revenue Requirement for the FY 2018-19.
This suggests that the scaling up of the Electric Vehicle (EV) programme is around the corner against the backdrop of the recent signing of a MoU with Toyota Kirloskar Motors for a feasibility study on introducing plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric commuter buses and sanction of 1,500 electric cars by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL).
The Discoms stated in the ARR proposals submitted to A.P. Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) Chairman Justice G. Bhavani Prasad in Hyderabad on Friday that charging infrastructure would be created in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati and along the State and national highways.
The tariffs are subject to the approval of APERC.
Speaking to The Hindu, Principal Secretary (energy) Ajay Jain said Delhi took the lead in rolling out the EV programme by setting up some charging stations and proposing a tariff and other States were fast catching up.
As far as A.P is concerned, 500 electric cars each were likely to be despatched later this month to Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati where they would be under hire with the government departments.
The State is evolving an EV policy with the cooperation of the Japanese and other dominant players in the electric mobility space facilitated by the AP Economic Development Board. With this, A.P. will be one of the early movers tapping the immense potential for EV, he observed.
