Lucknow: In a major boost to promote electric vehicle (EV) adoption, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced a lucrative incentive for buyers this festive season. Customers purchasing electric vehicles in Lucknow on Dhanteras and Diwali were given the offer to receive a full refund on road tax and registration fees, making EV ownership significantly more affordable.
The state government has decided to extend this exemption for the next two years, as part of its continued effort to promote clean and sustainable transportation. The Industrial Development Department issued the order on October 17, and the Transport Department is set to update its online portal to implement the change. A similar refund was offered when the EV policy was first launched in October 2022, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Before the new directive, buyers were paying 9% road tax for EVs priced up to ₹10 lakh and 11% for vehicles above ₹10 lakh, along with ₹300 registration fees for two-wheelers and ₹600 for four-wheelers. With the latest decision, all such charges will be refunded to recent buyers, and no new EV purchasers will have to pay them for the next two years.
Under the current EV policy, buyers are also eligible for direct purchase subsidies — ₹5,000 on two-wheelers, ₹1 lakh on four-wheelers, and ₹20 lakh on electric buses. Despite initial delays in portal updates, all eligible buyers previously received their refunds, and a similar process will follow this time.
In July 2024, the state government extended the EV subsidy scheme till 2027 due to slower-than-expected sales. The policy aims to support the sale of 2 lakh two-wheelers, 25,000 four-wheelers, 400 e-buses, and 1,000 e-goods carriers. So far, around 17,000 four-wheelers have already benefited from the scheme, a number expected to rise sharply with festive season demand.
The move not only incentivizes citizens to switch to cleaner mobility but also aligns with Uttar Pradesh’s goal of becoming a leading green mobility hub in India.
