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Picture Courtesy:  NDTV 

Context:

The Union Minister for Heavy Industries chaired an inter-ministerial coordination meeting to review and expedite the implementation of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure under the PM E-Drive scheme. 

About PM E-Drive Scheme

The PM E-DRIVE (PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement) scheme was launched in 2024 under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, to promote green mobility and develop an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing ecosystem in India. The scheme has a financial outlay of ₹10,900 crore over two years (2024-2026). 

It allocates Rs. 2,000 crore to install 72,000 public EV charging stations nationwide by the end of the financial year 2025-26. These stations target high-traffic areas like national highways, metro cities, airports, railway stations, toll plazas, and fuel outlets.

It provides subsidies for buying electric vehicles, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, and trucks. This makes EVs more affordable for people and businesses. It supports the creation of green jobs and boosts local manufacturing under the “Make in India” initiative, to strengthen India’s position in the global EV market.

Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL)’s Role:

• BHEL acts as the central coordinator for the scheme.
• It created a “super app” for EV users to book charging slots, check real-time availability, pay online, and track charger installations.
• BHEL also works with state governments to evaluate proposals and deploy chargers.

Significance

Green Jobs: The scheme creates jobs in manufacturing, tech, and maintenance.

Make in India: Boost local production of EVs, batteries, and chargers.

Carbon Reduction: Help India meet its climate goals (like net-zero emissions by 2070) by cutting pollution from petrol/diesel vehicles.

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Source: 

IBEF