SMEV welcomes fund support for promotion of electric vehicles

The Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) has welcomed the central government's launch of the 'FAME-India' scheme to give a boost to the electric vehicle industry.

In a statement, Sohinder Gill, Director (Corporate Affairs) of SMEV, said, "SMEV welcomes the launch of FAME India scheme that envisages to provide Rs.795 crore support till 2020 towards promoting electric vehicles and supporting charging infrastructure and R and D investments.

With the launch of the scheme, many of the major automotive players would start launching electric and hybrid vehicles. The existing manufacturers of electric scooters like Hero Electric, Yo bikes, Lohia and Ampere and Reva electric cars will particularly benefit from this scheme, as they already have vehicles in the showrooms and have started passing on the 100 percent incentives benefit to the customers right from April 1.

Few pilot projects like Hybrid buses in Mumbai, Pizza deliveries on electric scooters, electric two wheeled taxis as a pick and drop from Metro train stations are in the final stages of approvals and may also be implemented in next four to six months to showcase the scheme.

As a member of the project implementation and sanctioning committee of 'FAME', SMEV would ensure that only genuine manufacturers having good quality products and definite plans of indigenisation get the benefits."

Mr.Gill is also the CEO of Hero Electric.