PM E-DRIVE Scheme

Why in news : Centre Earmarks ₹500 Crore for Electric Truck Purchases under PM E-DRIVE Scheme

Overview:

• Full Name: PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE)

• Launched by: Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India

• Approval: Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

• Gazette Notification: S.O. 4259 (E), dated September 29, 2024

• Implementation Period: October 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026

• Effective Scheme Period: 2 years, including the subsumed EMPS-2024 (April–September 2024)

Total Outlay: ₹10,900 crore

• ₹3,679 crore allocated for demand incentives for eligible EV categories.

Eligible Categories under PM E-DRIVE:

1. Electric 2-Wheelers (e-2Ws)

   • For commercial use, and also privately or corporately owned registered vehicles

2. Electric 3-Wheelers (e-3Ws)

   • Includes e-rickshaws, e-carts, and L5 category

3. Electric Ambulances (e-Ambulances)

4. Electric Trucks (e-Trucks)

   • ₹500 crore earmarked for 5,600 e-trucks

   • Up to ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle incentive (based on GVW)

   • Mandatory scrapping of old polluting trucks

   • Warranties required:

     • Battery: 5 years or 5 lakh km

     • Vehicle & motor: 5 years or 2.5 lakh km

   • ₹100 crore reserved for 1,100 e-trucks in Delhi

5. Electric Buses (e-Buses)

6. Charging Infrastructure

7. Upgradation of Testing Agencies

Incentive Conditions:

• Only vehicles with advanced batteries are eligible.

• Incentives are provided upfront as purchase price reduction.

• OEMs reimbursed via PM E-DRIVE Portal on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Significance:

• India’s first dedicated customer-facing scheme for electric trucks

• Strengthens both supply-side and demand-side adoption of electric mobility

• Focus on affordable, clean public transport and technological advancement

• A major step toward achieving Net Zero targets, aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.