Govt notifies norms for retrofitting electric kit in vehicles

New Delhi: To curb vehicular pollution, the government has notified rules for retrofitment of hybrid electric system, or electric kit, for vehicles.

This applies to the vehicles that meet emission norms and are run on either diesel or gasoline only.

"The Retrofitment of hybrid electric system kit to vehicles having Gross Vehicle Weight not exceeding 3,500 kg shall be permitted if...It conforms to Bharat Stage-II or subsequent emission norms...It was not retrofitted earlier," Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in the notification.

It mentions that the installation of type approved hybrid electric system kit shall be done only by an installer authorised by the manufacturer or supplier of such kits.

The rules - Central Motor Vehicles (Seventh Amendment) Rules, 2016 -- were notified following amendment in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

The notification also mentions that the conversion of vehicles for pure electric operation with fitment of electric kit shall be permitted if the vehicle was manufactured on or after January 1, 1990 and "it is not provided with permits for carrying dangerous or hazardous goods, as defined in CMV Rules, 1989."

It also stipulated that the kit manufacturer or supplier shall obtain the type approval certificate from a specified test agency and such certificate will be valid for three years from the date of issue.