GOI Proposes Battery-Swap Plans for E-bikes to Curb Pollution

India has proposed a battery replacement scheme to speed up the deployment of electric scooters and rickshaws to control pollution and combat climate change.

According to a statement by the government's policy-making body, Niti Aayog, the directive will be in force until March 2025 and targets electric motorcycles and tricycles that are "concentrated" in urban areas.

The first stage will set up a battery replacement network in major cities with a population of over 4 million, and the second stage will cover cities with a population of over 500,000.

This plan defines the interoperability of charging and discharging EV batteries. Replacement batteries must be compatible with different electrical models and equipment at different battery charging stations.

According to the statement, India will also increase incentives for removable battery-powered electric vehicles based on kilowatt-hour capacities as part of new or existing subsidy programs.

India's finance minister, Nirmala Sitaraman, said in February that countries in South Asia would need to replace batteries, as lack of space in crowded urban areas would make it difficult to expand traditional charging stations.