“,”elements”:[]},{“title”:false,”type”:”ExtQuote”,”caption”:false,”elements”:[]}],”thumb_big”:”https://etimg.etb2bimg.com/thumb/msid-117939011,imgsize-61840,width-1200,height=765,overlay-etauto/industry/health-department-pushes-ev-shift-for-autos-cabs-buses.jpg”,”thumb_small”:”https://etimg.etb2bimg.com/thumb/img-size-61840/117939011.cms?width=150&height=112″,”time”:”2025-02-05 11:58:11″,”is_live”:false,”prime_id”:0,”highlights”:[],”highlights_html”:””,”also_read_available”:false,”body”:”
Reacting to this, transport experts said that the move aligns with the state’s broader environmental and sustainability goals.“>
The Health Department has urged the Transport Department to approve only electric vehicles for future commercial registrations in the State. In a letter to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “There is an alarming rise in air pollution due to fossil fuel-powered vehicles which is posing severe health risks to the city’s residents. With Bengaluru’s dense population and geographical conditions worsening pollution levels, the city risks earning a reputation similar to Delhi if immediate action is not taken.”
He suggested that to curb long-term environmental damage and protect public health, the Health Department has recommended that all newly registered commercial vehicles—including autos, cabs, taxis, goods carriers, and solid waste collection vehicles—be exclusively electric. Additionally, it has been proposed that all future procurements of city transport buses also be limited to electric vehicles (EVs). “I stress that moving away from traditional fuel sources is no longer just an option but an urgent necessity. Encouraging the use of public transport and expanding the EV fleet are crucial steps in mitigating air pollution,” Rao added.
Reacting to this, transport experts said that the move aligns with the state’s broader environmental and sustainability goals. The Karnataka government has already been incentivising EV adoption through subsidies, tax exemptions, and investments in charging infrastructure. While the proposal has been met with support from environmentalists and health experts, several challenges need to be addressed to ensure smooth implementation. “One of the biggest hurdles is the lack of sufficient charging stations across Bengaluru.
For a large-scale transition to EVs, the city needs a widespread and reliable network of fast-charging stations to ensure that vehicles can operate efficiently without long downtime for charging. Another major concern is the high initial cost of electric vehicles. Although EVs have lower operational expenses in the long run, their upfront purchase price remains a significant barrier for many drivers, particularly auto-rickshaws and cab operators who depend on daily earnings for sustenance. Without substantial subsidies or affordable financing options, adoption may be slow,” said Sathyanarayan D, an expert.
Vincent George, another expert added, “Battery performance and range limitations pose additional challenges. While advancements in EV technology are continuously improving battery efficiency, concerns remain about durability and the ability of these vehicles to sustain long hours of operation, especially for those in the commercial transport sector. Furthermore, implementing a complete shift from conventional fuel-powered vehicles to EVs will require strong government enforcement and strategic incentives.
Implementing complete shift from conventional fuel-powered vehicles to EVs will require strong govt enforcement– Vincent G, expert
Resistance from transport unions and fleet operators, who may be hesitant about transitioning due to cost concerns and uncertainties about infrastructure readiness, could slow down adoption. Despite these challenges, with the right government support, strategic planning, and infrastructure development, Bengaluru can successfully transition to an EV-dominated public transport system in the coming years. A phased approach, with proper incentives and infrastructure development,and stakeholder collaboration, will be key to making this ambitious vision a reality.”
“,”next_sibling”:[{“msid”:117937024,”title”:”India’s EV adoption remains nascent compared to global counterparts, but budget support to drive growth: Moody’s”,”entity_type”:”ARTICLE”,”link”:”/news/industry/indias-ev-adoption-remains-nascent-compared-to-global-counterparts-but-budget-support-to-drive-growth-moodys/117937024″,”link_next_mobile”:”/news/industry/indias-ev-adoption-remains-nascent-compared-to-global-counterparts-but-budget-support-to-drive-growth-moodys/117937024?next=1″,”category_name”:null,”category_name_seo”:”industry”}],”related_content”:[{“msid”:”117926620″,”title”:”Air pollution is rapidly increasing due to fossil fuel-powered vehicles, creating serious health risks for citizens”,”entity_type”:”IMAGES”,”seopath”:”bangalore/others/health-department-pushes-ev-shift-for-autos-cabs-buses/air-pollution-is-rapidly-increasing-due-to-fossil-fuel-powered-vehicles-creating-serious-health-risks-for-citizens”,”category_name”:”Health department pushes EV shift for autos, cabs, buses”,”synopsis”:false,”thumb”:”https://etimg.etb2bimg.com/thumb/img-size-175898/117926620.cms?width=150&height=112″,”link”:”https://etimg.etb2bimg.com/photo/117926620.cms?/117926620″}],”seoschemas”:false,”social_share”:{“fb”:”/news/industry/health-department-pushes-ev-shift-for-autos-cabs-buses/117939011?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium={{DEVICE_TYPE}}”,”x”:”/news/industry/health-department-pushes-ev-shift-for-autos-cabs-buses/117939011?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium={{DEVICE_TYPE}}”,”whatsapp”:”/news/industry/health-department-pushes-ev-shift-for-autos-cabs-buses/117939011?utm_source=wapp&utm_medium={{DEVICE_TYPE}}”,”linkdin”:”/news/industry/health-department-pushes-ev-shift-for-autos-cabs-buses/117939011?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium={{DEVICE_TYPE}}”,”telegram”:”/news/industry/health-department-pushes-ev-shift-for-autos-cabs-buses/117939011?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium={{DEVICE_TYPE}}”,”copy”:”/news/industry/health-department-pushes-ev-shift-for-autos-cabs-buses/117939011?utm_source=copy&utm_medium={{DEVICE_TYPE}}”},”cat_msid”:25384693,”cat_sub_msid”:false,”msid”:117939011,”entity_type”:”ARTICLE”,”title”:”Health department pushes EV shift for autos, cabs, buses”,”synopsis”:”u201cI stress that moving away from traditional fuel sources is no longer just an option but an urgent necessity. Encouraging the use of public transport and expanding the EV fleet are crucial steps in mitigating air pollution,u201d Rao added.”,”titleseo”:”industry/health-department-pushes-ev-shift-for-autos-cabs-buses”,”status”:”ACTIVE”,”authors”:[{“author_name”:”Sridhar Vivan”,”author_link”:”/author/479232850/sridhar-vivan”,”author_api_link”:”/author/479232850″,”author_image”:””,”author_additional”:{“thumbsize”:false,”msid”:479232850,”author_name”:”Sridhar Vivan”,”author_seo_name”:”Sridhar-Vivan”,”designation”:”Editor”,”agency”:false}}],”Alttitle”:{“minfo”:””},”artag”:”Bangalore Mirror Bureau”,”artdate”:”2025-02-05 11:58:11″,”lastupd”:”2025-02-05 12:00:26″,”breadcrumbTags”:[“electric vehicles”,”Bengaluru pollution”,”commercial electric vehicles”,”Karnataka EV adoption”,”EV charging infrastructure”,”health risks air pollution”,”Health Department”,”vincent george”],”secinfo”:{“seolocation”:”industry/health-department-pushes-ev-shift-for-autos-cabs-buses”}}” data-authors=”[” sridhar data-author-list=”Sridhar Vivan” data-category-name=”Industry” data-category_id=”23″ data-cat_msid=”25384693″ data-date=”2025-02-05″ data-index=”article_1″ data-keywords=”electric vehicles, Bengaluru pollution, commercial electric vehicles, Karnataka EV adoption, EV charging infrastructure, health risks air pollution, Health Department, vincent george” data-type=”news”>
“I stress that moving away from traditional fuel sources is no longer just an option but an urgent necessity. Encouraging the use of public transport and expanding the EV fleet are crucial steps in mitigating air pollution,” Rao added.
Reacting to this, transport experts said that the move aligns with the state’s broader environmental and sustainability goals.“>
The Health Department has urged the Transport Department to approve only electric vehicles for future commercial registrations in the State. In a letter to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “There is an alarming rise in air pollution due to fossil fuel-powered vehicles which is posing severe health risks to the city’s residents. With Bengaluru’s dense population and geographical conditions worsening pollution levels, the city risks earning a reputation similar to Delhi if immediate action is not taken.”He suggested that to curb long-term environmental damage and protect public health, the Health Department has recommended that all newly registered commercial vehicles—including autos, cabs, taxis, goods carriers, and solid waste collection vehicles—be exclusively electric. Additionally, it has been proposed that all future procurements of city transport buses also be limited to electric vehicles (EVs). “I stress that moving away from traditional fuel sources is no longer just an option but an urgent necessity. Encouraging the use of public transport and expanding the EV fleet are crucial steps in mitigating air pollution,” Rao added.Reacting to this, transport experts said that the move aligns with the state’s broader environmental and sustainability goals. The Karnataka government has already been incentivising EV adoption through subsidies, tax exemptions, and investments in charging infrastructure. While the proposal has been met with support from environmentalists and health experts, several challenges need to be addressed to ensure smooth implementation. “One of the biggest hurdles is the lack of sufficient charging stations across Bengaluru. For a large-scale transition to EVs, the city needs a widespread and reliable network of fast-charging stations to ensure that vehicles can operate efficiently without long downtime for charging. Another major concern is the high initial cost of electric vehicles. Although EVs have lower operational expenses in the long run, their upfront purchase price remains a significant barrier for many drivers, particularly auto-rickshaws and cab operators who depend on daily earnings for sustenance. Without substantial subsidies or affordable financing options, adoption may be slow,” said Sathyanarayan D, an expert.Vincent George, another expert added, “Battery performance and range limitations pose additional challenges. While advancements in EV technology are continuously improving battery efficiency, concerns remain about durability and the ability of these vehicles to sustain long hours of operation, especially for those in the commercial transport sector. Furthermore, implementing a complete shift from conventional fuel-powered vehicles to EVs will require strong government enforcement and strategic incentives.
Implementing complete shift from conventional fuel-powered vehicles to EVs will require strong govt enforcement– Vincent G, expert
Resistance from transport unions and fleet operators, who may be hesitant about transitioning due to cost concerns and uncertainties about infrastructure readiness, could slow down adoption. Despite these challenges, with the right government support, strategic planning, and infrastructure development, Bengaluru can successfully transition to an EV-dominated public transport system in the coming years. A phased approach, with proper incentives and infrastructure development,and stakeholder collaboration, will be key to making this ambitious vision a reality.”
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