Steel companies in state accelerating adoption of EVs

Bokaro: The push for electric mobility in the state’s steel sector appears to be gaining momentum at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the public to maximise the use of electric vehicles (EVs).

Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) has initiated proposals to introduce EV buses and is also exploring the phase-wise induction of electric trucks for internal transport.

The 4.6-MTPA capacity steel plant has replaced conventional petrol vehicles used by chief general managers (CGMs) with 45 electric cars as part of its broader energy saving and decarbonisation strategy. Officials said another 20 EVs are expected to be inducted in phases.

“Already 45 EV cars for CGMs have been introduced in the past to save fuel and aid environmental conservation,” a senior official said.

The plant has also provided hybrid electric-petrol vehicles to executive directors (EDs) for green mobility. Nearly 9,000 employees and officials work at BSL.

Officials said the PM’s appeal will further strengthen the resolve of PSUs to align with India’s energy saving, sustainability and carbon reduction goals.

BSL chief of communications Manikant Dhan said, “We have already taken steps to introduce EV cars for official use. We have also planned to introduce EV buses for official use inside the plant in the coming days. More EVs, including heavy vehicles, may be procured for use in plant.”

The clean mobility shift is not only limited to BSL alone. Vedanta Group, which has its 1.5-MTPA capacity ESL Steel Limited in Chandankyari here, said that it has also started accelerating the adoption of EVs across its operations.

Chief executive officer (CEO) of ESL Steel, Ravish Sharma, said “Nearly one-third of the company’s light motor vehicle (LMV) fleet has now been electrified. We are also working towards the phased electrification of the LMV fleet and buses in the 2026-27 fiscal.”

Another firm, BMW Industries Limited, which is establishing a greenfield steel plant at Balidih, is also aligned with the PM’s vision. GM V S Rao said, “We have introduced electric vehicles across our plants. At Bokaro, we have taken the first step with the deployment of ane EV. We are committed to expanding this further.”