Niti Aayog, a government regulator, released a draught battery swapping policy for electric vehicles on Thursday, suggesting incentives as well as a thorough testing methodology for swappable batteries.
The new guideline also comes at a time when there are growing concerns about the safety of electric vehicles in the wake of multiple cases of such vehicles catching fire. Given the importance of the two-wheeler and three-wheeler vehicle segments in expanding cities, the Aayog said in its draught policy that all significant cities, such as state capitals, UT headquarters, and cities with populations over 5 lakh, will be included in the second phase.
The policy aims to create a level playing field for all business models that sell electric vehicles with fixed or swappable batteries. The proposed policy also suggests that demand-side incentives available under existing or new EV purchase schemes be extended to EVs with swappable batteries that are eligible under this policy. It was suggested that "the size of the incentive might be set based on the kWh rating of the battery and compatible EV." To account for the float battery needs for battery swapping stations, a suitable multiplier may be added to the subsidy granted to battery providers, according to the draught policy.
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