West Bengal to host three-day EV expo in Kolkata

Kolkata, Dec 9 (KNN) The West Bengal government is organising a three-day Electric Vehicle Technology Expo “16th EVEXPO 2022’ from December 9 in Kolkata.

The State Government in association with EV Expo is also organising an EV Rally on December 10 to promote awareness about electric vehicles, clear doubts in people’s minds about their range, and encourage citizens to adopt and use electric vehicles in the State.

The three-day event will be showcasing the technologically advanced pollution-free 2, 3 and 4-wheeled e-vehicles, parts and accessories, charging solutions, and technology from around 100 exhibitors, said a press statement.

The event is organised as part of West Bengal Government’s e-mobility week being observed from December 7-11, 2022.

The EV rally aims to create two Limca Book of records in the category of EVs, which include the maximum number of electrical vehicles running together in India and the maximum number of people travelling together by electric vehicle in the country, according to a report in The Hindu.

The state government is expecting a participation from around 720 EV drivers and over 3300 EV passengers with around 20 electric buses with 800 passengers, 300 e-rickshaw with around 2000 passengers, around 100 electric cars with 400 passengers and around 100 electric two-wheelers with 100 pillion riders for the EV rally, the release added.

The State Government plans to set up 849 EV charging stations with one station every 25 km on the 4-lane highways and one charging station within a 3 Sq km area. It hopes to set up 1000 charging stations in the next two years.

“People are not able to buy EVs because of high cost and lack of charging infrastructure. To change the mindset and remove confusion in minds of people about EVs, we have partnered with a private agency to bring EV Expo to Kolkata,” S Suresh Kumar, Addl. Chief Secy, Power & NRES, said in the statement

He said that various government departments like power, transport, environment, KMC, technical education and training & ICE have come to work together to improve the situation regarding EVs in the State.

Oil companies have also been given the mandate to set up the charging front-ends and the Government shall handle the backend like power, etc.  (KNN Bureau)