Maharashtra EV Policy 2025: In a push towards a sustainable future and travelling, the Maharashtra government has introduced the New Electric Vehicle Policy 2025. According to the Government Resolution (GR) released on Friday, the government offered an exemption from toll taxes to all EVs, including cars and buses. The move aims to encourage people to switch to EVs as state aims to adopt 30 per cent EVs by 20.

The toll will be exempted at all the highways and expressways under the Public Works Department (PWD), like Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway (Samruddhi Expressway), Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, and Atal Setu, among others. The toll exemption for EVs will be there for five years. 

The exemption will cause losses to the PWD, which invested heavily in building these highways. Losses suffered by the PWD with the incentivisation will be compensated by the state transport department through supplementary provisions, under the guidance of a committee led by the Chief Secretary.

EV Policy 2025: Other provisions

Charging stations at every 25 km: Apart from this, the new EV policy mandates charging stations for EVs every 25 km on all national and state highways in the state. The EV policy also provides at least one charging point at all existing and upcoming petrol pumps.

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For its materialisation, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between the Oil Marketing Companies and the Transport Department.

Charging points at bus depots: The new EV policy 2025 also provisions equipping all ST bus depots and stations in the state with fast-charging facilities, to ensure smoother and seamless operations for public transport EVs.

Subsidies to commercial EVs: The new EV policy also promises subsidies for replacing heavy diesel vehicles. The policy feature will not be limited to passenger EVs but to all heavy-duty diesel vehicles like trucks, tractors, harvesters, ambulances, construction equipment, and vehicles employed in waste collection.

According to the government, these non-passenger vehicles add up to 67 times more pollution than passenger vehicles.

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