India allows sale of electric Vehicles without batteries

Electric vehicles without Batteries can be registered with RTO  

In a move that would create a new ecosystem for promotion of electric vehicles, Government permitted registration of electric vehicles without pre-fitted batteries. This would bring down the investment cost of electric vehicles and help people and new companies that would offer swappable batteries--a new concept for electric vehicles.

The motive behind the change in the rule is to create an ecosystem to accelerate the uptake of electric mobility in the country. It is time to come together to work Jointly to achieve the broader national agenda to reduce vehicular pollution and oil import bill, said senior officers of the Indian Ministry of Road and Transport, which issued the new guidelines to all states and UTs. "This will not only protect the environment and reduce the oft import bill but also provide opportunities to sunrise industry," he said.

For the promotion of electrical two-wheelers and three-wheeler vehicles, there are recommendations brought to the notice of the Ministry to delink the cost of the battery (which accounts for 30-40% of the total cost) from the vehicle cost. Vehicles could then also be sold in the market without the battery. This will make the upfront cost of the electrical 2 wheeler (2W) and 3 wheelers (3W) to be lower than ICE 2 and 3W. The battery could be provided separately by the OEM or the energy service provider.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has written to Transport Secretaries of all states and Union Territories clarifying that vehicles without batteries can be sold and registered based on the type approval certificate issued by the Test Agency.

 Further, there is no need to specify the Make/Type or any other details of the Battery for the purpose of Registration. However, the prototype of the electrical vehicle, and the battery (regular battery or the swappable battery) is required to be type approved by the test Agencies specified under Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

Centre has drawn the attention of the States/UTs to the relevant FORMS under Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. Viz. FORM-21 (Sale certificate), FORM -22 (Roadworthiness certificate issued by the manufacturer) and FORM-22-A (Roadworthiness certificate issued for Motor vehicles where fabrication of the body is done separately), required for the registration of Motor Vehicles under Rule 47 (Application for registration of Motor Vehicles), clearly specify Engine number/Motor number (In case of battery-operated vehicles).

Why this Step:

Nearly 40 % cost of an electric vehicle belongs to Battery. People avoid EVs because (LED ACID) batteries need to be replaced every two years, and LION phosphate batteries are very costly. These batteries require regular maintenance which is not possible for a non-technical person, and any small mistake might lead to damage to the battery. Present experience suggests people avoid EVs because they do not want to take chance with batteries.

In Electric Vehicles, most parts require negligible services compared to petrol/diesel vehicles. If it needs regular services and examination it is batteries. If a consumer is tension-free about the batteries, he would certainly go for EVs.

What it means to a common consumer and EV industry

1) The actual cost of an electric vehicle would reduce. Batteries can be procured from an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) company.

2) The headache of maintaining battery would be with OEM. Indirectly there would be no recurring cost related to the battery.

3) Win-Win game for vehicle owners (for they have no major investment), and batter manufacturing companies (because they would get a regular business)

4) It would generate new employment opportunities all over the country.

5) The power plants whose PLF (Plant Load Factor) has gone down as low as 60 % would increase in turn bring some kind of relief to them and generate power demand in the country.

6) Reduce India's crude oil import Bill as more and more people switch on to EV (Electrical vehicles) from ICs (Internal Combustion Engines).

7) If all goes India may lead the world in EVs and Battery technologies.