Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. has announced the launch of its first electric vehicle pilot project under the Government’s National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP). As part of the project, four battery-powered Maxximo electric vans were handed over to the Agra Development Authority to be used along the clean, green Taj Zero Emission Corridor to help reduce vehicular emissions, in the presence of senior Government officials.
The EV pilot project was flagged off by Mr. Rajan Katoch, Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, in the presence of Mr. Chetan Maini, CEO, Mahindra Reva.
Developed by Mahindra Reva, a subsidiary of the Mahindra Group and a pioneer in EV technologies, the four Maximmo electric vans will initially be used to ferry tourists from Shilpgram to the East Gate of the Taj Mahal. In future they could also be used for transporting tourists to Mehtab Bagh for night viewing of the Taj Mahal. Mahindra will also provide charging stations, technical assistance, spare parts and additional service support for this project.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Executive Director, Mahindra & Mahindra, said: “We are proud to partner with the Agra Development Authority for the launch of the first EV pilot project under NEMMP. The Taj Mahal has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, and we at Mahindra are delighted to be playing our part towards its preservation. We are grateful to the Government of Uttar Pradesh for its support for the project, which will go a long way in boosting the usage of EVs in the country”.
Speaking at the hand-over ceremony, Mr. Rajan Katoch, Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, observed: “Today we are delighted to take the first step towards our long-term vision of NEMMP 2020. I congratulate Mahindra for supporting and jointly working with the Government in its endeavour towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow and being the first OEM in the country to successfully roll out the electric vehicle pilot for public mobility in Agra.”
As one of the most visited cities in India, Agra is perfectly suited to become a pollution-free smart city. Hence this is an ideal platform to showcase sustainable mobility and serves as a great example of promoting environmental consciousness around heritage sites across India and the world.
Unveiled in January 2013, NEMMP lays out a detailed and comprehensive roadmap for electrification of the road transport sector in India. Expected to be implemented in the coming months, it aims to grow sales of electric vehicles to 6-7 million a year by 2020 and includes direct subsidies for purchase of both four and two-wheeled electric vehicles.
The Maxximo electric van is an 8-seater zero-emission mini-van powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries. Capable of covering a distance of 100 kilometers on a single charge, it is fully automatic and can hit an electronically limited top speed of 65 km per hour.
The van is suitable for all weather conditions and is built to high standards of safety and reliability. Expected to be production ready by FY-2016, the van could be a preferred option for first and last-mile connectivity for Metro rail and BRTS systems, school children, corporate employee commuting, etc., and can further serve the purpose of campus commuting.