During the 2020-21 Covid-19 pandemic, electric vehicle registrations have seen a 115% rise in Mumbai when compared with the previous financial year. EVs registered in 2020-21 totalled 1,442 compared with 672 in 2019-20. Out of these, 90% were two-wheelers, especially scooters. Also, CNG vehicles were preferred by motorists and were just 12% short of the number of diesel vehicles registered in 2019-20. The latest statistics also showed that CNG vehicle registrations in Mumbai were inching closer to the number of diesel vehicles registered in the past one year. In 2020-21, the number of CNG vehicles registered totalled 10,363 compared to 11,785 diesel vehicles. So, CNG vehicles were just 12% less than diesel vehicles. By comparison, in 2019-20, the total CNG vehicles registered were 28% less than diesel (31,440 diesel vehicles compared to 22,548 CNG).
Statistics also showed that of the total e-vehicles registered in 2020-21, 885 were done between January and March this year. Maximum e-vehicles were registered in the island city (Tardeo RTO) at 463 followed by 426 at Andheri RTO, 321 at Borivli and 232 at Wadala.
People are preferring electric vehicles as the costs of diesel and petrol are rising which neared the Rs 90 a litre and Rs 100 mark earlier this year, respectively. The city has also seen a rise in the number of shops selling e-vehicles while car manufacturers are also coming up with new models of e-cars and e-SUVs. The e-car also brings savings to your wallet. While petrol or diesel cars could cost Rs 3-4 per km, the e-car costs 50 paise. In a single fast charge, one can drive up to 120km.
The government is also trying to promote electric vehicles and has been encouraging setting up of charging stations in building premises and at petrol pumps (with subsidised rates of around Rs 6 per unit). But this infrastructure needs to be strengthened more as per the experts.
