The collaborative effort between the Maharashtra and central governments has sparked the launch of a joint pilot initiative named the Solar2EV Project for Social Justice. This endeavour is designed to bolster the PM Suryodaya Yojana, which aims to deploy 10 million rooftop solar panels. Spearheaded by the Maharashtra Department of Social Justice and Special Assistance in conjunction with the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the project PM Suryodaya Yojana is set to register an additional 200,000 vehicles in the state by the conclusion of 2025. These vehicles encompass electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, golf carts, light electric trucks, and fleet passenger EVs, all interconnected with solar energy.
In the pilot phase, the Solar2EV project aims to generate demand for 100,000 electric two-wheelers, 70,000 electric three-wheelers, and 30,000 passenger EVs by the end of 2025. In order to support continuing programs, the initiative aims to accomplish this through collaborations with non-banking financial firms, mobility service providers, and last-mile logistics.
The central ministry intends to allocate funds from its budget of 14,500 crores for this endeavour. Working in partnership with mobility operators, the project PM Suryodaya Yojana aims to create job opportunities for economically and socially disadvantaged youth and to provide marginalized communities with a dignified way of life.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, chaired a stakeholder meeting to discuss funding for EV charging stations. The Maharashtra government has proposed financing these vehicles from its state budget, which backs welfare initiatives through five corporations. These corporations will pinpoint and communicate the overall demand for the vehicles to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), potentially resulting in government-corporate procurement rates.
The Solar2EV Project for Social Justice additionally strives to assist underprivileged youth and individuals with disabilities by financing battery swapping stations, electric vehicle dealerships, as well as electric two- and three-wheelers through a range of schemes offered by the state.
Athawale emphasized the broadening scope of PM Suryodaya Yojna, now incorporating electric mobility and solar power, aligning with the prime minister’s initiative to decarbonize the economy and advance towards a net-zero goal. He underscored the potential advantages of electric mobility and a solar-based economy for marginalized communities and those in need. It is anticipated that disadvantaged groups will emerge as substantial consumers of electric vehicles and solar energy systems, bolstered by India’s transition to green energy and the government’s support of 10,000 crores for solar subsidies.
Pravin More, Assistant Private Secretary to the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, indicated that Solar2EV is scheduled for launch in the first half of 2024 as a social engineering initiative. Its objective is to offer educated yet disadvantaged and unemployed youth opportunities, such as acquiring a Tata Xpres-T EV, facilitated by state government funding for social welfare schemes.
The Maharashtra Social Justice and Welfare Commissioner, Om Prakash Bakoria, commended Athawale’s work and underlined how prepared the state is to adopt electric vehicles via the Solar2EV Project for Social Justice.
Various stakeholders, comprising representatives from the solar industry and battery manufacturers, have lauded the concept. For example, SunLit Power, based in Pune, plans to allocate over 100 crore towards establishing a battery production facility in Maharashtra, thereby creating employment opportunities for women and individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. During the stakeholder gathering, representatives from Omega Seiki Mobility, Hop Electric, Tata Motors, and Reliance New Energy expressed their endorsement of the initiative. They highlighted the potential surge in demand for electric vehicles, which could pave the way for new markets for EV manufacturers and the integration of solar energy with electric mobility.
Reliance New Energy emphasized the benefits of battery swapping as a solution for energy-as-a-service for mobility and home-use customers. This approach is seen as a promising way to address range anxiety and improve the convenience of charging in dense cities and remote areas.
