Maharashtra announces new policy to boost EV battery recycling and manufacturing
The GR specifies that special emphasis will be placed on the collection of used electric vehicle batteries from charging stations,
battery swapping centres
, authorised dealers, and similar facilities. Potential locations identified for these recycling centres include the
Mumbai Metropolitan Region
, Pune, Nagpur, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
Directions contained in the GR, under the aegis of the
urban development department
, advise local municipal bodies to designate convenient locations within their jurisdiction for the collection of used electric vehicle batteries. These may consist of charging stations, battery swapping centres, authorised dealers, and service centres. They are also advised to identify and reserve areas near solid waste processing and disposal centres for the development of battery segregation and disposal facilities. Collaboration with nearby recycling facilities is encouraged to guarantee the safe collection, segregation, and reuse of electric vehicle batteries.
The new policy sets out that the govt aims to attract investors for building a strong system for electric vehicle production in Maharashtra. Industries ranging from large to micro enterprises that establish manufacturing units for electric vehicles, their batteries, and other components will be eligible for various incentives. The GR states these benefits will be managed by the industry department, which will issue the necessary guidelines.
Further, the policy mandates that all new residential buildings in Mumbai and throughout the state must designate a dedicated charging hub for collective electric vehicle charging. This provision requires the approval of at least 50per cent of the members of the housing society and adherence to all safety and operational standards, with space set aside for shared electric vehicle charging. Likewise, at least 50per cent of parking spaces in all new commercial developments are to be made suitable for electric vehicle charging, with the infrastructure for future charging points to be installed as per the GR.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik stated that the govt would be requesting municipal corporations in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, and other parts of Maharashtra to earmark 1per cent of their budget for the creation of EV infrastructure. He added that petrol pumps in city areas would be required to implement mandatory 5 EV charging points rather than merely departmental stores, cautioning that a robust charging infrastructure is necessary for the success of any state govt EV policy.
The policy further targets 30per cent of new vehicle registrations to be electric vehicles in the coming years, with specific targets of 40per cent for two and three wheelers, 30per cent for cars/SUVs, 50per cent for aggregator cabs like Ola and Uber, and 15per cent for private buses. A senior official asserted that by 2030, the aim is to reduce 325 tons of PM 2.5 emissions and 1 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector in Maharashtra.
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