India To Launch Tender For Another 10,000 EVs In March 2018
After the success of the world’s single largest procurement tender of electric vehicles, Energy Efficiency Savings Limited (EESL) is set up to launch another tender to procure 10,000 electric vehicles. The tender is expected to be launched by the government-owned company next year.
Managing Director of EESL Saurabh Kumar recently told media outlets that a new tender for procurement of 10,000 electric vehicles will be launched in March 2018. The first batch of cars for this tender will likely be delivered by June 2018. As in the first tender, EESL will procure these vehicles for various government agencies which are planning to replace their fleets of petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.
Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra won the first tender to supply 10,000 electric sedans to EESL earlier this year. The first phase of this tender will see Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra to deliver 350 and 150 cars, respectively before the end of the year.
This sudden rise in activities by EESL with respect to electric vehicles is the result of the aggressive target announced by the Indian government to stop sales of fossil fuel-based cars by 2030. Along with the tenders to procure electric vehicles, government agencies are also planning to launch tenders for setting up charging infrastructure.
EESL is likely to float a tender to set up charging stations as well. Fortum and NBCC India have partnered to set up 150 charging stations across the country over the next 12-18 months. ABB India also announced plans to set up 4,500 charging stations.
Recently, another arm of the government NITI Aayog introduced a proposal to set up 135 charging stations across the capital New Delhi over the next few months. Charging stations will be set up at 55 locations, including 46 DC fast-charging and 89 AC slow-charging stations.
Meanwhile, Mahindra & Mahindra has delivered the first electric sedan to EESL in a grand ceremony. The Mahindra e-Verito sedan has a 20.5 kWh battery and a driving range of 170-180 kilometers on a single charge.
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