EV Push: Parliamentary Panel Seeks Live Database Of Charging Stations Across The Country

Taking note of the difficulty in finding charging stations as one of the challenges that’s slowing down electric vehicle (EV) adoption, a parliamentary panel has advised the government to have a live database of active charging stations installed all over the country.

In its report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry has suggested that the locations of active charging stations should be readily available for consumers for their reference so that they can easily track the nearest charging station at times of need while on the move.

It has recommended the Heavy Industries Ministry in coordination with other ministries and agencies concerned to put in place a facility for enhancing the e-mobility services.

The committee took note of the negligible number of charging stations and how some of them are concentrated only in the metros and select cities. “Unless and until the issue of inadequate charging facilities is addressed, the adoption of electric mobility is hardly going to take-off,” the panel said.

It has recommended that all EV manufacturers make provisions for charging facilities in their showrooms and service stations which will add up to the charging infrastructure to alleviate consumer’s “range anxiety”.

“The committee desires that for increasing numbers of charging stations, the government may explore installing smart meters on electric poles at dedicated locations and make small charging stations across the city, villages, highways and issue smart cards to the EV owners, who can charge their batteries anywhere which can be a good booster for faster adoption of EVs,” the reported said.

The committee has also recommended that expenditure incurred on setting up of charging stations may be brought under the ambit of CSR for two to three years.