Electric Vehicle Expo 2023: Home-grown EVs carve a niche amid swarm of big brand vars - Hindustan Times
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Electric Vehicle Expo 2023: Home-grown EVs carve a niche amid swarm of big brand vars

By, Chandigarh
Feb 06, 2023 01:29 AM IST

Electric golf carts, garbage-collecting vehicles by Indian companies were among the biggest draws at the Electric Vehicle Expo 2023

Unique home-grown electric vehicles drew eyeballs even amid a sea of swanky electric and hybrid cars being marketed by global auto giants at the three-day EV Expo 2023.

Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatreya checking out the features of an electric bus at EV Expo 2023 in Chandigarh. (HT Photo)
Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatreya checking out the features of an electric bus at EV Expo 2023 in Chandigarh. (HT Photo)

Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatreya attended the

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closing day of the event, which was being organised by the Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh chapters of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (PHDCCI).

Keeping in view the Union government’s plans to make a serious push for green mobility ecosystem and to decarbonise transport sector, PHDCCI has organised an electric vehicle expo in the city at the Sector-34 exhibition ground between February 3 and 5.

Hundreds went through the latest products, technology and equipment put up by 100 exhibitors, free of cost and booked vehicles of their choice.

The expo exhibited various types of electric vehicles including two-wheelers, cars, buses, e-rickshaws, cycles, garbage collection vans, as well as vehicles from automobile giants like Mercedes, Jaguar, Audi, Toyota, but it was the former group that remained the centre of attraction.

The electric golf cart, manufactured by HIM Teknoforge Limited, was viewed as a unique concept as the vehicle was designed in a way that it can be used as an open jeep as well. Chandigarh-based businessman and company director Mannan Aggarwal said the electric vehicles were now being manufactured at the Baddi-based factory.

“The golf cart was launched at the expo by UT administrator Banwari Lal Purohit on Friday. Costing around 2.5 lakh, the cart is much cheaper than other electric carts. It can be used by four golf players at a time, with space for golf bags. Its unique shape is similar to jeeps and has a removable roof,” Aggarwal said, adding that the cart was booked by several city-based golfers.

Other electric vehicles that drew government officials’ attention was the garbage collecting van. “Our e-garbage vehicle is already being used under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, by the civic body and rural bodies in Rajasthan, Gujarat, UP, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and other states. The loading area is 600 kg and it has a much-lower cost from 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh. This is a low-cost maintenance vehicle and driver just requires a licence of two-wheeler,” Aggarwal added.

Cycles by Pastiche Mobility Solutions Limited, starting at 25,000, were another popular pick among the visitors.

‘EVs are the future’

After exploring the array of electric vehicles at the expo, Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatreya said electric vehicles are the future and need to be prioritised.

Addressing EV manufacturers, buyers and industrialists, he said vehicles are a basic necessity and 1.8 crore new vehicles are being put out on roads every year nationally, before highlighting the government’s efforts to only make use of electric vehicles by 2030.

“The Centre has reduced the customs duty on electric vehicles from 21% to 13% in the budget of 2023-24. The Centre has started a new scrapping policy, under which vehicles older than 15 years will be scrapped, and there is a system to encourage vehicle owners,” he added.

Dattatreya said the Haryana government has also approved the Electric Vehicle Policy 2022 and launched an online portal for the same, adding, “The Haryana government has made a provision to give subsidies ranging from 15 lakh to 20 crore for the promotion of micro to mega industries.”

PHDCCI Haryana chapter chairperson Pranav Gupta said such expos would be organised by the chamber in other cities of Haryana as well.

(With inputs from Dar Ovais)

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