Govt allows use of existing power connections to charge EVs
The government has updated the rules of the electric car (EV) charging network, allowing proprietors to recharge their EVs by using existing electrical outlets at their offices or at home. It also gave the green light for the allotment of public land to private companies by way of bidding for the establishment of charge points for public use (PCS).
The Union power ministry released the revised regulations and norms on Thursday. They announced that the government will begin rolling out PCS on a massive scale over two phases. First, the phase would encompass megacities, which have populations over 4 million, according to the census of expressways of 2011, as well as important highways that connect to megacities. Cities with large populations, such as capitals of states, Union Territory headquarters, and major highways that connect with the major cities are covered during the next phase.
owners can charge their EVs from their offices or at their homes by using their existing electrical connectivity. They can charge their EVs at home or work using the same electrical connections. the rate that is applicable to domestic consumption will be used for charging domestically,” the ministry said in an announcement.
According to data from the ministry of Highway and transportation, India has 947,876 registered electric vehicles. Only 1,028 PCS has been put in place across the country at present, as per the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
The updated guidelines are vital as, by 2030 India will have set itself a goal of 30 percent EV sales for private vehicles and 70 percent for commercial vehicles, 40 percent for busses, and 80percent for three-wheelers and two-wheelers. At present, just 3 e-cars are priced below $15 lakh in India. The price of two-wheelers and three-wheelers is on the same level as petrol vehicles after accounting for subsidies. Aside from the expensive price of EVs one of the main reasons for the slow sales of EVs across the country in addition to Delhi is the absence of charging facilities.
The new rules outline the need for infrastructure and prescribe standards for the installation of PCS. “Any person or organization is free to establish public charging stations without the need for a license as long as the stations are in compliance with the technical and safety, and performance guidelines and standards set in the guidelines as well as the norms/standards or specifications set by the power minister, BEE and Central Electricity Authority (CEA) from time to time. A comprehensive list of the requirements for compliance for PCS has been also outlined. This includes standards for “appropriate infrastructure’ for electrical, civil, and safety specifications.”
The Centre has left it up to states’ governments to set the service charge ceiling to be imposed by PCS. This has been permitted because certain states have introduced EV policies, which provide subsidies to purchase an EV as well as for the establishment of charging stations.
At present 14 states have announced the details of their EV policies. These comprise Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar.
Minister of transport in the Union Nitin Gadkari told the Congress that Uttar Pradesh and Delhi account for 44% of EVs that are registered in India.
To ensure that charging stations are economically feasible, the government has set up an income-sharing system for the sites used to build public charging stations. “Land accessible to public and government entities will be offered to install PCS for a public entity or government on a revenue-sharing basis. an agreed-upon rate of 1 per kWh (used to charge) that is transferred to the owner of the land entity on the basis of quarterly.
This revenue-sharing arrangement could be signed by the parties for the duration that is 10 years. The model could also be used by the land-owning public agency to provide the land to a private company to install PCS on bidding with a base price of Rs . 1 Kilowatt,” it said.
The BEE is working on action plans for the establishment of charging stations that are public in nine cities are major ones like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Surat, and Pune. “As as per initial estimates, 3263 chargers under the business-as-usual model, 235,24 charged in moderate scenarios, as well as 46.397 under the aggressive scenario are planned to install the PCS system in these towns in 2030.” an official from the power ministry stated.
Read more: