KOCHI: Chetan Maini, chief executive officer of Mahindra Reva, has said that Kerala government should support electric vehicles sector with favourable policies. He was speaking during the Mahindra Reva factory visit organised for reporters in Bangalore a few days ago.
According to Maini, the sales of electric cars in Kerala have been low, though the state is a potential market for e-vehicles. “Kerala has a large tourism sector wherein the demand for electric cars can be high. However, unlike in other states, the policy of the government is not favourable for the sector in Kerala. In Kerala, the road tax of electric cars is 10 per cent and there is also five per cent VAT. In New Delhi, electric cars have been exempted from road tax and VAT. Karnataka government also has given encouragement for the sector to grow further,” he said.
Maini said that Mahindra Reva is planning to boost its market in Kerala with more vehicle outlets and charging stations. He said that he has high expectations from the ‘Plan 2020’ of the National Electric Mobility Mission which intend to see 60 lakh electric vehicles on the road by 2020.
Mahindra Reva will also bring out three new models of electric car, along with a new version of E20, soon. Electric version of Mahindra Verito, Maximo and Gio is in testing phase and expected to be in market by the end of this year. Electric version of Maximo with solar panel is currently undergoing testing at Sunderban in West Bengal. Reva is at present marketed in 26 countries across the globe. It was in 2010 that Mahindra and Mahindra Group took over Reva. E2O was launched in 2013. Priced at around `7.6 lakh, E2O is exported to Europe, America and Asian countries.