India, Sept. 4 -- Shimla is testing 12 battery-powered garbage vans on steep, narrow roads as Himachal Pradesh expands its electric mobility policy beyond buses and highways.

The electric waste-collection fleet has been operational since April 2026, but officials say its real test will come in winter, when snow, cold and steep gradients could affect performance.

The state is also linking EV adoption with employment through subsidised e-taxis, with 96 owner-drivers currently attached to government departments.

Himachal Pradesh now plans to introduce 1,000 privately owned electric buses on underserved routes, though charging gaps, delayed payments and vehicle reliability remain concerns.

Every morning in Shimla, 12 battery-powered garba...