Amidst BS III vehicles' washout, Nagpur will see the cleaner all-electric cabs launch this month. So much has been said about India's plan to go all- electric by 2030, so many schemes, FAME for instance, have been launched, but this is the first execution of the target. Nagpur shall have electric cabs running on its roads by 26th May'17. This date, because it will mark the completion of three years successfully by Modi-led govt., told Nitin Gadkari, the Union Transport Minister.
The project will incorporate 200 taxis by Mahindra and Mahindra for the trial facilitated by Nagpur Municipal Corporation. The time was majorly consumed in setting up of the charging stations for the vehicles all over the city, for the convenience of drivers and passengers.
It is still not known which car M&M has employed for the work. It is likely to be e-verito or e-20 plus.
There are three major problems that are still to be done away with:
1. Maharashtra falls under permits issued in constitutional section 74 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, and are required to be of a minimum engine capacity of 980cc operated on CNG.
2. Electric taxis operate on a regulated fare with meter and the number of permits of these taxis has been restricted. The taxis under the Fleet Taxi Scheme of 2006 with more than 1400cc engine capacity which are air conditioned are running on roads but when it comes to electric vehicles, their cc cannot be determined as it doesn't have an internal combustion engine.
This would require an amendment to the act especially for the running of electric radio cabs. Once launched, it will definitely bring about a positive change in the way transportation is commenced in the city, devoid of pollution.
