Kerala E-Auto Crisis: 30 Vehicles Idle for a Year as ₹30,000 Subsidy Stalls

In Ernakulam, Kerala, thirty of the 105 electric autorickshaws operated by the Ernakulam Jilla Autorickshaw Drivers Cooperative Society have remained idle for a year due to the non-disbursement of a promised ₹30,000 subsidy per vehicle. The cooperative has now moved the Kerala High Court, seeking to compel the state government to release the stalled funds.

The subsidy, part of Kerala's efforts to promote electric mobility, was intended to offset the higher upfront cost of e-autos. Without it, the cooperative claims it cannot afford to operate the vehicles, leaving a significant portion of its fleet unused. The society argues that the delay has caused financial strain and undermined the viability of the green initiative.

The case underscores the challenges of implementing electric vehicle subsidies at the state level, with similar delays reported elsewhere in India. If the court rules in favor of the cooperative, it could set a precedent for other aggrieved parties and pressure the Kerala government to streamline subsidy disbursement. The outcome will be closely watched by stakeholders in the EV sector and cooperative societies nationwide.