• February 1, 2019

Thiruvananthapuram to become country’s first city where only electric buses will ply roads

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Feb 1: A budget announcement in that Thiruvananthapuram city will be turned into city with buses that are powered by electricity only.

In the first phase, all buses in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation will be converted into electric buses.
Because of this, there will only be profit for the KSRTC. The experiment done on Nilakkal-Pamba route during Sabarimala season has proved this.
In 2022, the number of electric vehicles will be 10 lakh. For private electric vehicles, concession will be given for the road taxes.
There is Rs 12 crore for e-mobility promotion fund. From this fund, subsidy will be given to 10,000 electric auto-rickshaws. Centres will be started in the city from where charged batteries can be exchanged for used ones. This will reduce the expense of vehicle owners.
Petrol and diesel auto-rickshaws will be phased out and city roads will have electric auto-rickshaws in future.
KSRTC buses will be converted into electric vehicles as a model for other vehicles. Factories and research centres that manufacture electric vehicles will be established.
Kerala Automobiles has already started manufacturing electric auto-rickshaws on experimental basis. It has started discussion with a Swiss company to build electric buses.
When KSRTC buses’ transition to electric buses happens, the production unit of this company can be started in Kerala. Other related business will establishments come up after this.