The Union Territory of Ladakh has taken a major step towards making the UT self-sustainable, SMART, integrated, and carbon neutral. The administration has come up with an electric vehicle policy “Ladakh’s Electric Vehicle and Allied Infrastructure Policy 2022” which will encourage the transporter and individuals to avail subsidy to create a carbon-neutral future for the UT.

The policy entails a capital subsidy of 10 percent on two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers. To encourage sustainable and eco-friendly public transport, public buses will be given a capital subsidy of 25 percent under the policy.

To encourage this shift to electric vehicles, the administration has offered an early bird subsidy for the first year of the policy. During the first year, the percentage of the subsidy for the respective type of vehicles would be double the normal subsidy being offered for subsequent years.

To promote the electric vehicle, the administration has decided to continue to exempt Electric Vehicles from road taxes, as per S.O.08 dated March 26, 2021.

Further, to enhance the ecosystem of charging facilities, the administration has offered to subsidize Commercial Public Electric Vehicle charging stations for two-wheelers, cars, and buses. Capital subsidy on equipment/machinery (capital subsidy of 25 percent on the equipment /machinery or Rs 5, 00,000 (whichever is less) per station for the first 15 Electric Vehicle charging stations. The policy underlines that the electric power required by commercial EV charging stations would be charged at domestic rates.

The RTO of UT Ladakh has been made responsible to monitor the implementation, point of contact for the Electric Vehicle policy, creating awareness regarding the policy as well as the operations guidelines, and administering the policy.

The policy aims to transform Ladakh into a torch bearer in terms of the adoption of electric vehicles in the country and envisions encouraging and cultivating an EV ecosystem. With this policy, the administration will encourage the citizens to procure and use e-vehicles to create a carbon-neutral future for the UT.

The policy will help reduce dependence on fossil fuel-powered vehicles, which was high due to the tourism and required transport services.