31-Mar-2022: Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations

The number of electric vehicles in the country, as per Vahan 4 data, as on 25-03-2022, is 10,76,420 and a total of 1,742 Public Charging Stations (PCS), as per the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), are operational in the country, as on 21-03-2022.

Ministry of Power has issued “Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles – the revised consolidated Guidelines and Standards” on 14.01.2022 to accelerate the E-Mobility transition in the country. 

Under the Scheme for Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Phase-II (FAME India Phase II) of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, 2877 public EV charging stations have been sanctioned in 68 cities. 

Action Plans have been prepared by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) for 8 cities with 4 million plus population (Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Surat, and Pune). Under these Action Plans, scenario wise targets have been prepared for Business as Usual (BAU), Moderate and Aggressive Scenarios for installation of chargers in these cities.

Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) had invited proposals from any Govt. Organization/Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) (State/Central)/Govt. DISCOM/ Oil Public Sector Undertaking and similar other Public/Private entities to build and operate Public EV charging infrastructure on Expressways and National Highways under FAME India Scheme Phase-II for Highways & Expressways, wherein PSU Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), in consortium with Convergence Energy Services Ltd. (subsidiary of EESL), has been awarded the work for setting up of EV charging stations along 16 NH/Expressways.

In order to facilitate EESL in the above prospect, NHAI has signed an MOU with EESL. As per this MoU, NHAI shall provide space/land near  toll plazas and its buildings for installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, based on revenue sharing model, subject to an agreeable amount to NHAI and EESL. As part of the Wayside Amenities (WSAs), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has also awarded 39 such facilities for development.

10-Feb-2022: Government of India sets policy for Electric Vehicle charging stations

Ministry of Power issued the revised consolidated Guidelines & Standards for charging infrastructure on 14th January, 2022. The salient features as stipulated in the guidelines and standards are as under:

1. Tariff for supply of electricity for Public Charging Station (PCS) shall be a single part tariff and shall not exceed “Average Cost of Supply” till 31st March, 2025.
2. DISCOMs may leverage on funding from the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) under ‘Part A – Distribution Infrastructure’ for the general upstream network augmentation necessitated due to the upcoming charging infrastructure in various areas. The cost of such works carried out by the DISCOMs with the financial assistance from Government of India under Revamped Scheme shall not be charged from the consumers for Public Charging Stations for EVs.
3. Housing Societies, Malls, Office Complexes, Restaurants, Hotels, etc. are allowed to install PCS for charging of vehicles including charging of visitor’s vehicles permitted to come in its premises.
4. Charging stations meant for 100% in-house/captive utilization are free to choose charging specifications as per requirement.
5. DISCOMs have been directed to provide electricity connection to PCS in accordance with the timelines specified in the “Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020”.
6. The connection for a PCS shall be provided within 7 days in metro cities, 15 days in other municipal areas and 30 days in rural areas. Appropriate Commission may specify a lesser time limit than the aforementioned limit.
7. Any PCS/chain of charging station may also obtain electricity from any generation company through open access. Open access shall be provided within 15 days for this purpose. Only cross subsidy charges (not more than 20% as per Tariff Policy Guidelines), transmission charges and wheeling charges shall be applicable.
8. Guidelines also include the details of requirements of Public Charging Infrastructure (PCI), PCI for long range EVs and/or heavy duty EVs, Location of PCS, Database of Public EV charging stations, Tariff for supply of electricity to EV PCS and service charge at PCS.
9. Due to high cost of rent for land and charges provision of land at promotional rates for PCS have been provided in the Guidelines. Land available with Government/Public entities shall be provided to Government/Public entity on a revenue sharing basis at a fixed rate of Re.1/kWh (used for charging) to be paid to the land owning agency, initially for a period of 10 years.

The Charging Stations take connection from DISCOMs which in turn take the supply of electricity from the Grid. The power is supplied to grid from both Non-Renewable and Renewable Sources.

2-Dec-2021: Electric Vehicle Charging Station on National Highways

Electric vehicle Charging Stations are to be provided by the developer as part of the Wayside Amenities (WSAs) being awarded by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). NHAI has already awarded 39 such facilities and the proposals for 103 such sites are at bidding stage. Further, additional WSA sites, as and when identified by the Authority, would also be put up for bidding. The works which have been already awarded are expected to be completed by the end of FY 2022-23.

Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) had invited proposals from Government Organizations/Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) (State/Central)/ Government DISCOMs/ Oil Public Sector Undertakings and similar other Public/Private entities to build and operate Public Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure on Expressways and National Highways under FAME India Scheme Phase-II, wherein Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) consortium with Convergence Energy Services Ltd (subsidiary of EESL) has been awarded the work for setting up of EV charging stations along 16 NH/Expressways.

In order to facilitate EESL in the above prospect, NHAI has signed an MOU with EESL. As per this MoU, NHAI shall provide space/land near the toll plazas and its buildings for installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations based on revenue sharing model. The space/land for the same shall be provided to EESL at no cost basis for duration as decided by NHAI. This would not only assist in promoting clean/green energy and conserving the environment but could also be a source of revenue for NHAI.

Further, the Ministry of Power, vide memorandum dated 14th December, 2018, has published guidelines and standards for the charging infrastructure of electric vehicles, which are available on [www.powermin.nic.in]. These guidelines have been revised on 01.10.2019. These guidelines stipulate the requirements regarding density/distance between two charging points and specify the priorities for rolling out of electric vehicle public charging infrastructure.