Budget 2019 Expectations: GST on batteries should be reduced, says MD of Okinawa electric scooters

With Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman all set to present Modi 2.0's first Full Budget on July 5, expectations and hopes of various traders, industrialists, and other people from the business section are running high. Keeping in mind the big focus on Electric Vehicles that Modi 2.0 has in terms of auto sector, players in EV segment too are sharing their expectations. The manufacturer of Okinawa electric scooters wants GST on batteries to be reduced from the current 18 percent slab to the lowest possible slab. We hope the government would soon announce a concrete plan of action with its time-bound implementation in order to fulfill its stated vision. 

“In the Interim Budget, the finance minister shared the vision of having 30% EVs in the mobility mix by 2030 to give a boost to e-vehicle manufacturers. The government has placed a definitive emphasis on Electric Vehicles and had already announced a reduction of customs duty on the imported electric vehicles in completely knocked-down or semi-knocked down state, to 10-15% from 15-30%. The Fame-2 Policy is also actively supporting the electric two-wheeler industry. In the upcoming budget we would like to see reduced import duties on lithium-ion cells, motors and motor controllers so that the batteries can be produced locally aligning with Governments’ Make In India initiative. We also want GST on batteries to be reduced from the current 18 percent slab to the lowest possible slab. We hope the government would soon announce a concrete plan of action with its time-bound implementation in order to fulfill its stated vision," Jeetender Sharma, Founder & Managing Director, Okinawa Autotech Pvt. Ltd. said on pre-budget expectation and the EV initiative. 

"The world is developing at an incredible pace with new technological interventions emerging every day. To move towards a stellar growth adverse effects of current modes of transportation needs to be countered. Government initiatives such as FAME II aims to boost electric mobility by not only providing government subsidy to the customers but also high-speed Made In India electric vehicles. NITI Aayog proposal of sale of only electric vehicles after 2030 have given further boost to e-mobility in the country," Jeetender Sharma said.

Jeetender Sharma further adds, "Electric vehicles are easier on the environment than their gasoline-powered counterparts. They have tremendous potential to revolutionize the way commuting takes place at present in India and across the world by not just being economically viable but also environmentally sustainable. Switching to EVs will not only help improve the environment but will also prove to be cost-efficient in the long run. Providing a solution to the lack of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs), electric two-wheeler makers are turning to detachable batteries to make the charging process easier. With the shift to detachable batteries the country pace towards electrification will double in no time."
 
"Supplemented by innovators, entrepreneurs and active government support, the EV sector is progressively paving its way to make this mode the face of transport in India. As more and more countries are consciously taking initiatives to reduce dependence on conventional energy sources, adopting electric vehicles serves as one of the most basic steps towards contributing to a greener ecosystem and promoting the Make In India initiative. This is eventually leading to a paradigm shift, making electric vehicles the future of global transport,” Jeetender Sharma concluded.