Mahindra today announced the launch of the 1st Electric Vehicle pilot project, under the aegis of the Government of India’s ambitious National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP). As part of the project, four battery-powered Maxximo Electric Vans were handed over to the Agra Development Authority, which will be used along the clean, green Taj Zero Emission Corridor, to help reduce vehicular emissions.
This initiative by Mahindra is the first such project under the central government’s National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP). Developed by Mahindra Reva, a subsidiary of the Mahindra Group and a pioneer of electric vehicle (EV) technologies, the Maxximo Electric Van is the first such vehicle to be made in India. The four Maximmo Electric Vans will initially be used to ferry tourists from Shilpgram to the East Gate of the Taj Mahal. In future they could also be used for transporting tourists to Mehtab Bagh for night viewing of the Taj Mahal. Mahindra will also provide charging stations, technical assistance, spare parts and additional service support for this project.
The Maxximo Electric Van is an 8-seater zero-emission mini-van powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries. Capable of covering a distance of 100 kilometers on a single charge, the Maxximo Electric Van is fully-automatic and can hit an electronically limited top-speed of 65 kilometers per hour. It is suitable for all weather conditions and is built to high standards of safety and reliability. Expected to be production ready by FY-2016, the Maxximo Electric Van can be a preferred option for first and last mile connectivity for Metro rail and BRTS systems, school vans, corporate employee commuting solutions and can further serve the purpose of campus commuting.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Executive Director, Mahindra & Mahindra said: “We are proud to partner with the Agra Development Authority for the launch of the first EV pilot project under the NEMMP. The Taj Mahal has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site and we at Mahindra are delighted to be playing our part towards its preservation. We are grateful to the Government of Uttar Pradesh for their support during this project, which will go a long way in boosting the usage of EVs within our country”.
Speaking at the hand-over ceremony, Shri Rajan Katoch, Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Government of India, said, “Today we are delighted to take the first step towards our long term vision of NEMMP 2020. I congratulate Mahindra for supporting and jointly working with the Government in its endeavour towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow and being the first OEM in the country to successfully roll out the electric vehicle pilot for public mobility in Agra. The government has envisioned the concept of building 100 smart cities with better facilities, better connectivity and most importantly a better environment. Going forward we will develop many such smart transportation and mobility solutions for public and private transportation including last mile connectivity. As one of the most visited cities in India, Agra is perfectly suited to become a pollution free smart city. Hence this is an ideal platform to showcase sustainable mobility and serves as a great example of promoting environmental consciousness around heritage sites across India and the world.”