New Delhi: India will host the 4th Environmentally Friendly Vehicle (EFV) Conference in New Delhi from November 23-24th this year. The 2009 Delhi Conference will deal with issues such as – Mobility and Environment - Role of EFVs, Future of EFVs & electric vehicles, Gaseous Fuels Technology, Alternative fuels and Drives – Technology of Future, Regulatory and Legislative Framework for EFVs.
The EFV conference aims at promotion of environmental friendly vehicles to ensure sustainable road transport.
The Conference is being jointly hosted by Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises and other stakeholders including, Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas as well as Industry associations- Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Auto Components Manufacturers Association (ACMA).
As a part of WP-29 initiative, Environmentally Friendly Vehicle (EFV) Conferences are being organized biennially. The first such Conference was held in Tokyo, Japan in 2003, second in Birmingham, UK in 2005 and the third conference in Dresden, Germany in 2007.
Reduction of greenhouse gases, improvement of air quality, reduction in traffic noise, protection of resources and prevention of the release of harmful substances are the main objectives of the Conference. It will also pave the way in achieving the ambitious targets on human health at a cost effective and sustainable manner.
The EFV Conference offers a platform for senior government officials, industry leaders, academicians and key decision makers, to discuss environment friendly mode of public transport and development.
Production of eco-friendly vehicles in the country
"In order to encourage the production of eco-friendly vehicles in the country, excise duty on electric cars and their six specified inputs was fully exempted in budget 2008-09. At the post budget stage (2008-09), in response to requests made by various trade and industry associations, all other electric vehicles were also fully exempted from excise duty. Further, in budget 2008-09, the excise duty on hybrid cars was reduced from 24% ad-valorem to 14% ad-valorem. The excise duty on hybrid cars was further reduced to 10% on 7.12.2008 and then again to 8% on 24.2.09. All the above concessions have been continued in 2009-10. Government is also implementing a scheme for Central Financial Assistance by providing 33% of the cost of indigenously manufactured electric vehicles (with specified ceiling amounts) for supporting research, development and demonstration projects at academic institutions, Government undertakings, societies, industries etc," Minister of State for Finance, Shri S.S. Palanimanickam, informed, responding to a question raised in Rajya Sabha today. |
