FCC

Kolkata aims for major electric vehicle shift by 2030

2023-07-11

According to the Kolkata Comprehensive Electric Mobility Plan, jointly prepared by the Asian Development Bank and Niti Ayog, a significant portion of the city's vehicles will transition to electric vehicles (EVs) in the next decade. The plan aims to achieve a major penetration of EVs in Kolkata by 2030, resulting in a notable decrease in carbon dioxide emissions.

Niti Ayog has set specific targets for different vehicle categories in order to accomplish this goal. The plan envisions that 50 per cent of two-wheeler sales in Kolkata will be electric, while three-wheelers will achieve 100 per cent electrification.

For private four-wheelers, the target is to attain a 15 per cent market share for EVs, while commercial four-wheelers are expected to reach a 30 per cent market share. If these targets are met, it is estimated that around 2.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions will be reduced.

The report highlights the tremendous growth potential of EVs in Kolkata. Currently, the city has approximately 3,500 electric vehicles, but this number is projected to exceed 355,000 by the end of 2030.

The total expenses associated with this transition, considering sales projections, are estimated to be over Rs 30.08 billion. However, the operational savings from adopting EVs are predicted to surpass Rs 145.29 billion. Additionally, an investment of Rs 7480 million will be required to establish the necessary charging infrastructure.

Kolkata has already made significant progress in adopting EVs, with a nearly four-fold increase in EV registrations from 2021 to 2022. This growth has been primarily driven by electric two-wheelers, accounting for 64 per cent of registrations, followed by four-wheelers at 35 per cent.

Snehasis Chakraborty, the state transport minister, praised the report for recognising the efforts of the Bengal government in promoting EVs. He emphasised the collaborative endeavors across various departments to achieve the shared objective of zero-emission, climate-resilient transportation.