The Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) on Thursday said it is temporarily suspending its present constitution while appointing former BJP spokesperson Sanjay Kaul as its chief evangelist to help revise the agenda of the association.

Kaul has been tasked with helping the EV sector tide over the crisis it is facing since last year, with almost all OEMs in the sector dealing with issues of non-compliance with policy details of the FAME II scheme, SMEV said.

SMEV will go into voluntary hibernation to coincide with the appointment of Kaul as chief evangelist. It will suspend all operational actions until the time a new structure is fashioned under his guidance, it added.

“We have requested Kaul to help revise the agenda of the association for the sector and develop a new charter that aims to lift the industry from the situation it finds itself in right now,” SMEV secretary-general Ajay Sharma said.

He further said Kaul’s experience in working with different groups and his ability to forge a consensus and insight into the industry would be sought to help set a new direction for the association about the EV sector.

SMEV has been at odds with the heavy industries ministry over various issues relating to FAME II incentives, including withholding of subsidies, demanding retrospective clawbacks of subsidies given in 2019, and delisting companies from the NAB (National Automotive Board) portal.

The government had reduced the subsidy provided under the FAME-II scheme applicable to electric two-wheelers registered on or after June 1.

SMEV had even accused the ministry of “sabotaging” the scheme, while asking Niti Aayog for a comprehensive review of the policy.

PTI