Maharashtra: As petrol price soars electric vehicles gain ground

As the cost of petrol inches towars Rs100 a litre, the demand for electric vehicles (both e-rickshaws and two-wheelers) has also been rising in the city.

This can be gauged from the fact that even demand for an ‘illegal’ battery-operated autorickshaw has skyrocketed in the city, especially in north, east and central Nagpur. E-rickshaws without number plate can be seen plying in many areas, including Sugat Nagar, Pardi, Itwari, Gandhibagh and Mahal areas.

According to data from the regional transport office (RTO), the city saw 104 battery-operated vehicles being registered in the last financial year. The demand for both battery-operated two-wheelers and e-rickshaws has been rising. As many as 31 e-rickshaws, followed by 30 two-wheelers and 26 cars were registered in 2020-21, the data revealed.

As with other vehicles, the coronavirus-induced lockdown also affected sale of electric vehicles. In 2019-20, the city had recorded registration of 586 battery-operated vehicles — mostly two-wheelers and autorickshaws.

Of the city’s 18.21 lakh vehicles, battery-operated vehicles share is about .04%. According to the data, the city has 894 battery-operated vehicles of all categories.