By Team PluginIndia
Electric Vehicle News
Electric Vehicle News
The power ministry of India is to allow individuals and businesses to set up electric vehicle charging stations without the need for a license. This will give further boost to electric vehicles by opening up the playing field and enabling EV charging service.
The new guidelines state that a charging infrastructure at home or office can now be installed without a license and any individual wishing to do so will be helped by the distribution company in the process. It, however, mandates that the installed charging point should adhere to the safety, technical and performance standards and follow all the protocols outlined by various authorities involved in the operation.
The power minister R K Singh said, "We have tried to address the concerns of EV owners in new guidelines". He expressed hope that the revised guidelines will encourage faster adoption of EV's in India. He also said that an individual or business, should apply for connectivity and the distribution company is bound to provide connectivity. Obtaining electricity from open access is also permissible.
"Service charges of 30-40% over and above notified electricity tariff for electric vehicles charging appear to be a viable business proposition for public charging stations," Alekhya Datta, a fellow and area convener of electricity and fuels division at The Energy & Research Institute.
This news comes at a time when corporations like state run companies, ride hailing firms, power utility companies and auto giants like Mahindra and Tata Motors are rushing in to setup charging stations.
The government is also preparing a fresh policy for creating special EV ecosystems in nine cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. The government will start pilot projects in these cities through central public sector undertakings like NTPC, Power Grid Corp and Indian Oil Corp and will have public charging stations at every three kilometres. The government has also identified 11 busy highways to set up charging stations at every 25 km.
The power minister R K Singh said, "We have tried to address the concerns of EV owners in new guidelines". He expressed hope that the revised guidelines will encourage faster adoption of EV's in India. He also said that an individual or business, should apply for connectivity and the distribution company is bound to provide connectivity. Obtaining electricity from open access is also permissible.
"Service charges of 30-40% over and above notified electricity tariff for electric vehicles charging appear to be a viable business proposition for public charging stations," Alekhya Datta, a fellow and area convener of electricity and fuels division at The Energy & Research Institute.
This news comes at a time when corporations like state run companies, ride hailing firms, power utility companies and auto giants like Mahindra and Tata Motors are rushing in to setup charging stations.
The government is also preparing a fresh policy for creating special EV ecosystems in nine cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. The government will start pilot projects in these cities through central public sector undertakings like NTPC, Power Grid Corp and Indian Oil Corp and will have public charging stations at every three kilometres. The government has also identified 11 busy highways to set up charging stations at every 25 km.
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PluginIndia's Take
Few years back, the government of India made amendments to the electricity act (2003), to enable sale of electricity for EV charging. But now they have also removed license requirements which makes things very easy. Any business or an individual can setup an EV charge point.
We now need standardized discounted electricity rates from discoms specially for EV charging. Also businesses should be able to cap the rate at which EV owners are charged. Once these regulations are set, We will soon see EV charging in every street just like how we have mobile phone pre-paid cards being sold in India or when STD/ISD booths were prominent in the 90s!
Few years back, the government of India made amendments to the electricity act (2003), to enable sale of electricity for EV charging. But now they have also removed license requirements which makes things very easy. Any business or an individual can setup an EV charge point.
We now need standardized discounted electricity rates from discoms specially for EV charging. Also businesses should be able to cap the rate at which EV owners are charged. Once these regulations are set, We will soon see EV charging in every street just like how we have mobile phone pre-paid cards being sold in India or when STD/ISD booths were prominent in the 90s!
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