Electric ambitions

EV adoption requires supporting eco-system

Last week, the government added heft to its policy to promote electric vehicles (EVs) by slashing the goods and services tax (GST) on them from 12 to 5 per cent and on chargers from 18 to 5 per cent with effect from August 1. It has also exempted from the GST the hiring of electric buses by local authorities with a carrying capacity of more than 12 people. These come soon after a tax break in the Budget providing an additional income tax deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh on interest paid on loans to buy EVs. Both seek to augment