- This has been done to reduce the upfront cost of the EVs
- The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) said that batteries account for almost half the cost of an EV, making them vastly more expensive than a combustion engine vehicle of similar performance
The road transport and highways ministry has issued a notification allowing the sale of electric two- and three-wheelers without a pre-fitted battery. This has been done to reduce the upfront cost of the EVs.
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) said that batteries account for almost half the cost of an EV, making them vastly more expensive than a combustion engine vehicle of similar performance. It added that if the cost of batteries is delinked from that of the vehicle, electric two- and three-wheelers could cost less than fossil-fuel-powered vehicles
Then the batteries can be sold by the manufacturer or an energy service provider as per the ministry. An energy service provider can then rent charged batteries to EV owners akin to the refuelling of conventional vehicles.
No need to specify the type or any other details of the battery
As per Livemint, in a letter to the transport secretaries of all states and union territories, the ministry said that vehicles without batteries can be sold and registered after getting an approval certificate issued by a test agency. The report added that the letter added that there is also no need to specify the type or any other details of the battery for vehicle registration. It also said that the prototype of the electrical vehicle, and the battery (regular battery or the swappable battery) is required to be type approved by the test agencies.
