The union road transport and highways ministry has asked states to permit the registration and selling of
electric vehicles ( EVs) without pre-fitted battery, thereby reducing the cost of these vehicles as well
as promoting the use of swappable batteries.
With India striving to create an ecosystem to encourage the adoption of electric mobility, the latest step is expected to reduce its upfront cost, as compared to an internal combustion engine (ICE) fitted vehicles. The battery in an EV accounts for 30-40% of its cost. The adoption of electric mobility will also reduce vehicular pollution and reduce dependence on oil imports.
The battery can be provided separately by an original equipment manufacturer or an energy service provider.
In a letter to transport secretaries of all states and union territories, the ministry said that vehicles without batteries can be sold and registered after getting an approval certificate issued by a testing agency. There is also no need to specify the type or any other details of the battery for vehicle registration.
“For the promotion of electrical two-wheelers and three-wheeler vehicles, there are recommendations brought to the notice of the Ministry to delink the cost of the battery (which accounts for 30-40% of the total cost) from the vehicle cost. Vehicles could then also be sold in the market without the battery. This will make the upfront cost of the electrical 2 wheeler (2W) and 3 wheelers (3W) to be lower than ICE 2 and 3W,” it is mentioned in the letter.
Progress comes at a time when India is still struggling to move for more costly electric adoption and a lack
of charging infrastructure. Adopting battery swapping would also shorten the time it takes to charge EVs,
said an industry official.
