A major portion of the city’s automobile will shift to electric vehicles (EVs) over the next decade, according to the Kolkata Comprehensive Electric Mobility Plan, jointly prepared by the Asian Development Bank and Niti Ayog. Kolkata aims to achieve major EV penetration by 2030, resulting in a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
Niti Ayog has set specific targets for different vehicle categories. The plan envisions 50% of two-wheeler sales in Kolkata to be electric, with 100% electrification of three-wheelers.
Private four-wheelers are targeted to achieve a 15% EV market share while that of commercial four-wheelers is expected to reach 30%. These targets, if met, will result in an estimated reduction of 2.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
The report highlights the remarkable growth potential of EVs in Kolkata. Currently, the city has around 3,500 electric vehicles but this number is projected to exceed 355,000 by the end of 2030.
The total expenses associated with this transition, taking into account sales projections, are estimated to be over INR 3,008 crore (USD 364 million). However, the operational savings from EV adoption are predicted to surpass INR 14,529 crore (USD 1,754 million). Additionally, an investment of INR 74.8 crore (USD 9.1 million) will be required for the establishment of charging infrastructure.
Kolkata has already made significant progress in EV adoption, with a nearly four-fold increase in EV registrations from 2021 to 2022. This growth has been driven primarily by electric two-wheelers, accounting for 64% of registrations, followed by four-wheelers at 35%.
Snehasis Chakraborty, the state transport minister, commended the report that has recognised the Bengal government’s efforts to promote EVs.
He highlighted the collaborative efforts across various departments to achieve the common goal of zero-emission, climate-resilient transportation.
