E-Ambulances will get up to 35% PM E-DRIVE subsidy

The centre will subsidise up to 35% of the ex-factory price of Electric Ambulances, a gazette notification issued Wednesday said. The centre has allocated Rs 500 crore to support an indicative target of 3,811 electric ambulances over fiscal 2026-27 and 2027-28. Patient Transport Vehicles (Type B), Basic Life Support (Type C), and Advanced Life Support (Type D) will be supported.

“Financial support is Rs 30,000 per kilowatt hour (kWh) of battery capacity or 35% of the ex-factory price. Vehicles must offer a robust minimum warranty of 5 years or 1,25,000 km covering the battery, motor, and the vehicle itself,” according to Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries.

These sops are offered under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme, originally launched in September 2024 with a Rs 10,900 crore outlay. The scheme focuses exclusively on electric buses, e-ambulances, and e-trucks, EV public charging station, and upgrade of testing agencies.

There are currently about 86,000 ambulances registered in the country. These vehicles last roughly seven years, and some 25,000 ambulances are annually procured under the National Health Mission.

E-ambulances are currently operating in the US, Canada, Denmark, Germany, UK and Japan, and have a range of 150 to 320 kilometres on a full charge.