Efficiency and mileage on downward slope, long charging hours; Motor vehicle dept to abandon EV vehicles

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Department of Motor Vehicles decided to abandon e-vehicles and switch to diesel and petrol cars. The Department of Civil Service Reforms also recommended to the government that EVs rented through ANERT (Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology) be returned at the end of the contract period, and that petrol or diesel cars be rented instead. The maintenance and driver will be taken care of by the contractors.

It was found that EVs are not suitable for the enforcement squad, which has to work 24 hours a day in three shifts. The vehicles need to be charged for several hours at regular intervals. As EV batteries age, their efficiency and mileage drop. The battery will die before the charge is completely depleted. Once it runs out, it has to be charged again for eight hours. The long charging time is making it impossible for officials to complete even one shift.

The average annual cost of renting 82 vehicles, including 12 new squads, is expected to be Rs 4.92 crore. 70 EVs were rented for eight years from 2019 through ANERT for the Safe Kerala project. The recommendation is to terminate the contract in 2027.