West Bengal seeks to double incentives as part of revamped EV policy at the Global Bengal Summit in November

The West Bengal State Government plans to revamp its 2021 Electric Vehicles Policy and double electric vehicle (EV) incentives. This move comes in the light of a mere seven percent achievement of the 67,000 electric-vehicle target that the state had set. Of these, electric buses stand below the 100 unit mark, the Vahaan portal shows.

As per its current EV policy, the state has set an ambitious target for deploying more than 10 lakh electric vehicles — of which 1,200 are electric buses — and one lakh charging stations by 2024.

The amended EV policy will be unveiled at the seventh Bengal Global Business Summit in Kolkatta in the third week of November, state officials said.

Mayank Bindal, who is the Founder & CEO of Kolkata's first EV cab service brand SnapE Cabs, also confirmed that a policy shift is in the works.

Bindal, who is also a member of the West Bengal government's EV advisory panel, told Autocar Professional that the state's present EV policy is being revised, and "a new comprehensive approach to e-mobility is being defined to increase incentives twofold".

West Bengal changes gears from its anti-industry stance to welcoming zero-emission technologies
Dr. Amit Mitra, Principal Chief Advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the state's former Finance Minister was in Mumbai to attract investors for the seventh edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit, at the behest of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

He told Autocar Professional that the state is in the advanced stages of converting all diesel-powered state buses to electric vehicles. 

Dr Mitra said that the Bengal Global Business Summit will announce a slew of new policy decisions that have been authorised by the cabinet with Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee’s Trinamool party-led state administration rapidly shedding its 'anti-industry' reputation. 

It is well known that in 2008 Banerjee, then in opposition, spearheaded a farmers' revolt in Singur against the acquisition of 1,000 acres of fertile farmland for the Tata Motors Nano Plant. Later, Chairman Ratan Tata said that the environment was not favourable to the establishment of the industry and that he was closing the shop even before it began. Now, the Bengal government is taking pains to change this perception.

"West Bengal has put the past behind it, from its image as a state known for labour issues to being a proactive state," Mitra said addressing the stakeholders in the country's financial capital.

West Bengal has attracted Rs. 3.35 lakh crore investments last year
West Bengal, Dr. Amit Mitra said, has attracted investments close to Rs 3.35 lakh crore investment at last year's summit, and is looking to attract investments of up to 3.5 crore this year.

He also mentioned the automotive industry in West Bengal is seeing significant expansion.  

According to Dr. Mitra, the state has received investments from 23 major Tata firms, including construction equipment giant Tata Hitachi, which has started manufacturing mining machines in West Bengal which represents the world's second-largest coal deposit reserves.

On attracting global automotive producers such as Tesla into West Bengal, the state's former finance minister said, "The automobile sector is one area where the state is looking to attract higher investment, and we welcome Tesla as much as other global manufacturers into West Bengal as the preferred state of choice."

State looking to emerge as a leader in Electric Mobility
The state is taking giant steps to lead in electric mobility as it intends to electrify the Kolkata-Asansol and Kolkata-Digha highways, with plans to add fast chargers every 25 kilometers, catering to electric buses and high-voltage electric cars.

One example of this is fleet operator Snap E Cabs which has 400 Tata Tigor Express T Electric Cabs in its fleet. The ride-hailing app has a Memorandum of Understanding with Tata Motors for all Tigor Express T EV fleet cars. Mayank Bindal, Founder and CEO of Snap E Cabs said the company intends to add 600 more cabs by the end of the current fiscal year and the company plans to increase its investments by threefold from the Rs 22 crore it has bootstrapped to fund its rapidly expanding fleet and rising consumer demand for electric cabs.

Snap E claims to get 15-20,000 requests every day from consumers for electric cabs due to attractive prices over conventional ICE vehicles.

The ride-hailing app has partnered with Tata Motors, Citroen India, Tata Power, Jio BP, Charge Point, and EVRE in its journey to decarbonise the City of Joy.

According to FADA estimates, the state has posted a six percent growth in auto sales with 9,73,921 units in FY23 over 9,18,696 units in FY22. Electric two-wheelers have witnessed a maximum growth of 322 percent over a low base of 2,267 units sold in FY22.