14 e-cars were flagged-off jointly by Shri V. Suresh Babu, Chief Mechanical Engineer, Shri K. Ravikumar, Chief Engineer, Shri R. Prabakar, Traffic Manager, Capt. Praveen Kumar Singh, Deputy Conservator and Shri Ashoka Kumar Sahu, Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer at the Port’s Administrative Offices.
The second batch of e-cars consisting of 14 Mahendra SUV 400 e-cars were supplied by M/s. ACC Logistics, Kolkata, (through Government e Market – GeM ) on wet lease basis, for a period of 5 years. As a part of wet lease agreement, the service provider shall deploy the vehicles & drivers and also carry out the maintenance of the vehicles.
With zero tail-pipe emission, the above 14 electric vehicle would reduce the GHG footprint by more than 14 Tonnes of CO2 every year. The charging of the e-vehicles shall be done with the power generated from the Port’s captive solar and wind renewable energy sources.
Aligned to the initiatives of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has envisioned through ‘Maritime Amrit kaal Vision 2047’ for development of carbon neutral Ports in India and reduce Green House Gas emissions through sustainable solutions such as usage of green fuels, electrified / renewable energy-based yard equipment, vehicles & vessels, shore to ship power supply arrangement etc.
V.O. Chidambaranar Port is equally inspired to reduce its share of carbon emission and become carbon neutral in the years to come. V.O. Chidambaranar Port, as a Steward of Environment care, has implement an array of green initiatives such as 5 MW Solar Port Plant, 2 MW Wind Turbine generator, 640 KW Roof top solar power, e-cars, 100% LED lighting, Shore power supply to ships and tugs, Electric vehicle charging stations, etc.
Port has planned to induct e-buses, provide shore power in all the berths & terminals, convert all the equipment operated by fossil fuel in the Berths, terminals and storage areas such as Harbour Mobile cranes, Rail Mounted Quay Cranes, Rubber tyred gantry cranes through electric / Renewable energy sources, in a phased manner.