The first batch of three electric cars to be used by the VO Chidambaranar Port Trust, formerly Tuticorin Port Trust, were flagged off on Wednesday (4 August). Three more e-cars will be deployed soon.
These Tata Xpres-T electric vehicles have been supplied by M/s Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a Joint venture of Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), under the Ministry of Power, on wet-lease basis, for six years.
As a part of the wet-lease agreement, EESL will also be providing charging points at the port, insurance, registration, deployment of drivers, and maintenance of the vehicles. VOC Port will pay a monthly recurring cost to EESL.
The electric vehicles (EVs) being deployed comprise a 21.50 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, capable of powering the car for 231 Kilometres in a single charge.
“The battery pack would be powered by an AC charger set-up that can simultaneously charge three cars (three outputs) at a time with output power rating of 3.3kW per car,” the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said.
The charger set-up would charge the battery from zero to 100 per cent in eight hours. With zero tailpipe emission, each electric vehicle would reduce the greenhouse gas footprint by more than 1.5 Tonnes of CO2 every year.
“As a part of ‘Maritime India Vision 2030’, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is committed to lead the world in a safe, sustainable and green maritime sector and adhere to globally recognized environmental quality standards. VO Chidambaranar port is equally inspired to follow a multi-clean fuel strategy to reduce emissions at the port,” the statement added.