VIJAYAWADA: The State government on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Toyota Kirloskar Motors so that the company can start feasibility study to introduce “Prius PHEV” and “Small EV Commuter” in Amaravati, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh.As per the agreement, Toyota will supply as many as 10 electric cars to the State between May and December 2018 free of cost. The vehicles will operate in Amaravati and in Tirupati on a pilot basis. Once the project fructifies, Andhra Pradesh will emerge as the first State to introduce eco-friendly electric vehicles.
In the presence of Information Technology and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh, Toyota Kirloskar Motors managing director Akito Tachibana and IT department principal secretary K Vijayanand exchanged the agreement.Speaking on the occasion, Lokesh said that the government aims to make AP the hub for electric vehicle ecosystem and is working on bringing a specific policy on electric vehicles and setting up the required infrastructure for charging.
“We are confident that the MoU will help us move a step forward in realising our aim to establish an electric vehicle ecosystem in the State. Our government has always been a pioneer in adopting new technologies and has been the frontrunner in undertaking many first-of-its-kind initiatives in the country,’’ he said. Saying that there are several problems with regard to introduction of electric vehicles in the country, the minister said that all States should create a suitable atmosphere for operating pollution-free electric vehicles.
Stating that with the cooperation of Toyota Motors, which has had two decades of experience in producing electric cars, Lokesh said that an action plan has been formulated to develop plug- in hybrid electric vehicles. “Electric cars supplied by Toyota will be reserved for trial run in Amaravati region. Just 20 minutes charging will help the vehicle to run for 70 kilometres. Efforts are on to introduce 1,500 electrical vehicles,” said the IT Minister.
Lauding the initiative taken up by the government, Toyota Motors MD Akito Tachibana said that they would make efforts to supply efficient electrical vehicles to prevent pollution in the region. He said the electrical vehicles will help to overcome fuel consumption issues.