Pune: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the state would need 50,000 electric buses in the next three years.Speaking at the inauguration of EV manufacturing facilities around the city on Friday, Fadnavis said there was huge demand for e-buses from several govt-run transport bodies, but supply was limited.“Govt wants to procure e-buses in Mumbai and for Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), but I am not able to find supply,” the CM said after inaugurating six manufacturing facilities of Eka Mobility, a manufacturer of heavy electric vehicles. He said just Mumbai needs 10,000 e-buses and MSRTC requires 30,000.Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) had introduced air-conditioned e-buses in its fleet. “We are encouraging e-buses in the fleet for each major city,” he said.Fadnavis said that Maharashtra has an installed capacity of 35,000 MW of renewable energy. By 2030, the state will add 46,000 MW. “This will mean that 52% of the total power generated in the state will be from green sources and by 2035, this will rise to 65%,” he said.Speaking at the same event, Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari said that he would speak to the Union power minister for reasonable charging fees at EV charging points along highways.“The current rate is Rs 22 per unit. It could be reduced to Rs 5 per unit from 8 am to 6 pm and Rs 8-10 after sunset,” Gadkari suggested.Fadnavis said state govt too was ready to lower EV charging fees and improve the ecosystem. He said govt was ready to introduce regulations and hinted at a master plan for the charging ecosystem, prepared in consultation with all EV makers.
