Reliance Energy gets 18 electric vehicles to combat pollution

Mumbai Jan 23 (IANS) Reliance Energy has acquired six cars and 12 two-wheelers for its operational activities as part of its commitment to protect the environment by reducing air pollution an official said here on Tuesday.

The fleet will replace 18 of its internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles used in its 400 sq.km area of Mumbai suburbs split into five operational zones. The company plans to open three electric vehicles charging stations in each of the five zones and add more in the next three years to promote electric vehicles. The Centre is targeting to convert all new passenger car sales to electric vehicles by 2030 under the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) Scheme. To achieve this target an incentive in the form of a subsidy of nearly Rs one lac per vehicle is provided to make these environment-friendly vehicles more affordable. Electric vehicles can also be charged from renewable energy sources and distributed generation like roof-top solars wind generation and energy storage. Experts say that interior city roads with high vehicular traffic coupled with stop-and-go congestion leads to higher air pollution for locals but E-Mobility significantly reduces GHG emission and improves their life quality. --IANS qn/ahm/bg