India's EV Infra: Over 10 Lakh Registered EVs And 1,742 Operational Public Charging Stations In India, Centre Pushing For More In The Coming Years

India has a total of 1,076,420 registered Electric Vehicles (EVs) as on 25 March 2022 as per Vahan 4 data. According to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), there are 1,742 operational Public Charging Stations (PCS) in the country as on 21 March 2022.

The data was given by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari in a written statement to a starred question in Lok Sabha on Thursday.

The availability of adequate charging infrastructure had been the key impediment in accelerating the adoption of EVs in India. In this regard, the Union Ministry of Power has promulgated the revised consolidated Guidelines & Standards for Charging Infrastructure for EVs on 14 January 2022.

These Guidelines and Standards supersedes the “Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles - Guidelines and Standards” issued by the Ministry of Power on 01 October, 2019 and subsequently amended on 08 June 2020.

The objective is to enable expeditious deployment of public EV charging infrastructure across the country. This would also promote energy security and reduction of emission intensity of the country by promotion of the entire EV ecosystem.

Who Can Set Up An EV Charging Station

The guidelines for Charging Infrastructure include provisions for both individual owners of EVs and for the PCS.

In a significant step, the guidelines allow owners to charge their EVs at their residence/offices using their existing electricity connections.

Public Charging Stations (PCS) are such EV Charging stations where any electric vehicle can get recharged. The guidelines allow any individual/entity to set up PCS without the need for a license provided that, such stations meet the technical, safety as well as performance standards and protocols laid down under these guidelines or those laid down by the Ministry of Power, the BEE and Central Electricity Authority (CEA) from time to time.

Location Of Public Charging Stations

EV range anxiety is the fear of running out of power on a journey and not being able to find a charging point. Studies show that driving range and a lack of charging infrastructure are the primary reasons people do not consider EVs when buying a new vehicle.

To alleviate the range anxiety of the potential EV owners, guidelines provide that at least one Charging Station shall be available in a grid of 3 Km X 3 Km. Further, one Charging Station shall be set up at every 25 Km on both sides of highways/roads.

For long range EVs and/or heavy duty EVs like buses/trucks etc., there shall be at least one Fast Charging Station (FCS) with specified charging infrastructure every 100 Kms, one on each side of the highways/road located preferably within/alongside the PCS.

Nodal Agency

As per the guidelines, the BEE has been designated as the Central Nodal Agency for the deployment of public charging infrastructure in India. All relevant agencies including the CEA are required to provide necessary support to the Central Nodal Agency (CNA).

Similarly, every State Government has to nominate a Nodal Agency for the particular State for setting up charging infrastructure. The State DISCOM shall generally be the Nodal Agency for such purposes. However, the State Government is free to select a Central/State PSU including Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), Urban/Area Development Authorities etc. as its Nodal Agency.

Database Of Public EV Charging Stations

The guidelines mandate the BEE to create and maintain a national online database of all the PCS in consultation with State Nodal Agencies (SNAs).

Additionally the BEE has also developed a centralized mobile application to help users locate charging stations and book charging slots conveniently.

Priority For Rollout Of EV Public Charging Infrastructure

As per the extant guidelines, a two phase plan has been envisaged for installing the EV charging infrastructure in the country.

In the first phase, all mega cities with a population of 4 million plus as per census 2011, all existing expressways connected to these mega cities & important Highways connected with each of these mega cities shall be taken up for coverage. The first phase is targeted to be completed within one to three years.

In the second phase, big cities like state capitals and UT headquarters shall be covered for distributed and demonstrative effect. Further, important Highways connected with each of these mega cities shall be taken up for coverage.

Projected Coverage

The BEE, as the CNA, has prepared action plans for the installation of PCS for 8 cities with 4 million plus population, namely, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Surat, and Pune.

A scenario wise target has been prepared for Business as Usual (BAU), Moderate and Aggressive scenarios for installation of chargers in these cities so far. These targets have been prepared based on the requirements under the Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Power, Electric Vehicles (EV) growth projections in these cities, Growth in EV charging demand etc.

As per the initial estimates, a total of 3,263 chargers under BAU scenario, 23,524 chargers under moderate scenario and 46,397 under Aggressive scenario are being targeted for installation in these cities by 2030.

FAME Scheme

The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) formulated a Scheme for Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme in 2015, with an aim to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and to promote Electric Vehicles.

Under the Phase I of the scheme, MHI has sanctioned 520 EV Charging Stations for about Rs 43 crore, and out of these 461 EV charging stations have been commissioned and are under operation as on 07 Jan 2022.

At present, Phase-II of FAME India Scheme is being implemented for a period of five years w.e.f. 01 April 2019 with a total budgetary support of Rs 10,000 crore. This phase focuses on supporting electrification of public & shared transportation and creating EV charging infrastructure to address the range anxiety among users of electric vehicles.

Under Phase-II of FAME-India Scheme, Rs1000 Crore has been allocated for the development of charging infrastructure. The Ministry has sanctioned 2,877 charging stations in 68 cities across 25 states/UTs under Phase-II of the scheme. Further, MHI has sanctioned 1,576 EV Charging Stations across 16 Highways & 9 Expressways under this phase.

The Expressways approved for EV charging infrastructure include Mumbai-Pune, Ahmedabad-Vadodara, Delhi-Agra Yamuna Expressway, Bengaluru-Mysore, Bengaluru- Chennai, Surat-Mumbai, Agra-Lucknow, Eastern Peripheral and Hyderabad Outer Ring Road.

Charging Infra On Oil Pumps

The guidelines on charging infrastructure for EVs allows for the Central/State governments to give priority to existing retail outlets of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for installation of Public EV Charging stations.

In this direction, the OMCs have announced the setting up of 22,000 EV charging stations in prominent cities and on national highways across the country over the next three to five years.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the country's largest state-controlled refiner by capacity, will set up EV charging facilities at 10,000 fuel outlets over the next three years. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) said it will set up 7,000 stations over the next five years while Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) has plans for 5,000 stations.

IOCL has already installed 439 EV charging stations and plans to install another 2,000 EV charging stations over the next year. BPCL has installed 52 charging stations, while HPCL has installed 382 charging stations.

Charging Infra On Expressways/National Highways (NHs)

The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) had invited proposals from Public/Private entities to build and operate Public EV charging infrastructure on Expressways and National Highways under Phase – II of the FAME India Scheme.

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a PSU in consortium with Convergence Energy Services Ltd. (subsidiary of EESL), has been awarded the work for setting up 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 EV Charging Stations, based on revenue sharing model, subject to an agreeable amount to NHAI and EESL. As part of the Wayside Amenities (WSAs), NHAI has also awarded 39 such facilities for development.