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Tag: EV Charging Infrastructure

  • Centre Unveils Guidelines for INR 2,000-Crore Nationwide EV Charging Network to Boost Electric Mobility

    Under the Prime Minister Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-Drive) programme, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has released the operating rules for the installation of EV public charging stations (EV PCS). Under the PM E-Drive programme, the government had set aside INR 2,000 crore to install over 72,300 public EV charging stations nationwide.

    The instructions state that in order to facilitate the building of EV charging infrastructure in various places, a tiered subsidy structure will be used. Upstream infrastructure and EV charging equipment (EVSE) on government buildings, including offices, housing complexes, hospitals, and educational institutions, will be fully subsidised, as long as the chargers are accessible to the general public for free.

    Government’s Push for EV’s Expansion Through Subsidies

    The subsidy covers 70% of the cost of EVSE and 80% of upstream infrastructure for transport hubs and public sector-controlled sites such as toll plazas, bus depots, airports, OMC outlets and train stations. Streets, malls, and market complexes are among the numerous public places where an 80% subsidy is provided exclusively for upstream infrastructure.

    Anywhere that battery charging stations and swapping are installed, they are also eligible for an 80% infrastructure subsidy. The benchmark price for upstream infrastructure is INR 6.04 lakh for chargers with a capacity of up to 50 kW and INR 24 lakh for chargers with a capacity of more than 150 kW.

    Benchmark prices for EV Supply Equipment (EVSE) differ depending on the kind and capacity of the charger; for instance, a 50 kW CCS-II charger costs INR 7.25 lakh, while a 100 kW CCS-II charger costs INR 11.68 lakh. These expenses will serve as the foundation for calculating the amounts of eligible subsidies.

    Scheme Focusing on Urban Centres

    The plan will prioritise state capitals, smart cities, satellite towns connected to the metro, high-density national and state highways, and metropolitan centres with a population of one million or more. Airports, train stations and petrol stations are examples of public transportation hubs that have been designated for infrastructure support.

    Incentives will also be available to state and Union Territory governments, including their PSUs and connected agencies, central ministries, and central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) to help electrify government department fleets. Using a specialised web platform, nodal bodies will be in charge of determining high-priority sites and submitting combined bids. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has been designated as the Project Implementation Agency in order to guarantee prompt and high-quality execution.

    A two-tranche approach will be used for the subsidy disbursal, with money being granted if performance and compliance requirements are met. In order to facilitate payments, monitor usage, and enable real-time station availability, integration with the National Unified EV Charging Hub will be required.

    Quick
    Shots

    •Full subsidy for chargers and
    upstream infrastructure on government buildings if accessible to the public.

    •70% subsidy for EVSE and 80% for
    upstream infra at transport hubs, airports, bus depots, OMC outlets, etc.

    •Priority to state capitals, smart
    cities, metro-connected satellite towns, and high-density highways.

    •Airports, train stations, and petrol
    pumps identified as key charging hubs.

  • Delhi Govt Extends EV Policy Till March 2026 to Boost Green Mobility

    Since the new policy’s draft would be subject to public input, which is anticipated to take time, the Delhi government has reportedly prolonged the present electric vehicle regulation until March 31, 2026, or until a revised version is announced.

    According to a PTI report, the decision was made 22 July  at a cabinet meeting at the Delhi secretariat, which was chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Prior to implementing the revised policy, Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh emphasised the necessity of “broader dialogue.”

    Why the Policy Extension Was Needed?

     According to Sing, the extension will allow the transport department to perform thorough talks with all parties involved, including the general public, business executives, academics, environmental organisations, and both public and private institutions.

    He added that the main topics of these talks will include improving EV charging infrastructure, evaluating current subsidies and incentives, putting in place reliable systems for disposing of batteries and e-waste, and precisely defining the responsibilities of the public and private sectors in Delhi’s developing EV ecosystem.

    What the New EV Policy Aims to Address?

    By setting up battery collection facilities and a network of charging and swappable battery stations, the new strategy also seeks to develop an all-encompassing ecosystem for electric vehicles. Three months were added to the policy’s deadline in April, which was originally set to expire on January 1, 2025.

    Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the environment minister for Delhi, stated in April that 20,000 new jobs are anticipated to be created by the second phase of the city’s EV policy. These positions are expected to cover a range of responsibilities within the EV ecosystem, from supervising battery recycling procedures to maintaining charging stations.

    Sirsa’s remarks are in line with the Delhi government’s overarching objectives to encourage EV use and lessen traffic pollution in the city.

    Key Incentives Under the EV Policy

    A possible ban on new petrol car registrations in the city is anticipated by the new Delhi EV policy, which is now pending Centre approval. Its main goal is to switch to all electric mobility by banning fossil fuel vehicles. Additionally, it requires public transportation fleets to be electrified and suggests installing 13,200 public charging stations.

    The capital also intends to provide a purchase subsidy of up to INR 30,000 for EV two-wheeler purchases under this program. The Delhi government implemented the current EV policy in August 2020 in an effort to curb the city’s escalating air pollution and promote EV usage.

    By 2024, the plan aimed to have one EV for every four cars sold in Delhi. According to Vahan data, 1.75 lakh EVs of all vehicle kinds were registered in June, an increase of more than 20% year over year.

  • Government Intends to Invest INR 2,000Cr to Improve EV Charging Infrastructure

    With an emphasis on battery swapping facilities, the Indian government plans to expand EV charging infrastructure. This expansion is likely to cover important transportation hubs, such as ports, highways, railroads, and airports. According to a media report, a top official affirmed the project as a component of a larger endeavour to increase EV adoption in the nation. To identify the best places for EV charging stations, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) is working with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, and many state governments. The installation of EV charging stations and battery-swapping stations has been allotted INR 2,000 crore under the INR 10,900 crore PM E-Drive programme. In order to accommodate the increasing number of EV users and lessen dependency on internal combustion engine vehicles, the government plans to expand the number of public charging stations from 32,500 to 72,300 by FY26.

    Expansion to Major Transport Corridors

    EV charging stations are already available at a number of transportation passageways, such as the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, the Kochi Airport, the NH-48 (Delhi-Jaipur-Agra), and the NH-179B (Chennai-Trichy). Other sites are being evaluated for additional installations. According to the official, the administration held an interministerial meeting and received feedback from 14 states. Upon receiving further input from pertinent departments, the administration will complete the guidelines by April. MHI has selected 20 national routes with heavy truck traffic for charging infrastructure in order to support long-distance EV travel. According to the report, MHI will give financial support, up to 80% of the project expenditures, while NHAI will manage the procurement process. Among the busy roads under consideration are the Bengaluru-Chennai and Mumbai-Pune highways. Based on traffic data, NHAI will pinpoint the precise sites, while MHI will manage the allocation of funds.

    Battery Swapping and its Specifics

    The official clarified that the government will accept battery swapping proposals from ports, airports, and NHAI. However, they need to adhere to the safety and technical requirements set forth by the power ministry. AAI must mention power capacity and pricing specifications if it plans to incorporate a battery-swapping facility in its tenders. Operators will also have to fulfil investment-based service-level requirements. According to a media report that cited the official, businesses might have to buy batteries to guarantee this degree of service. The service-level agreement will contain topics like uptime, power quality, and service specifications, even though this might not be a formal requirement. The quantity of batteries, however, will not be mentioned. The AAI, NHAI, and state governments will eventually make this decision. As part of the programme, the government is willing to offer subsidies for swapping stations.

  • Electric Vehicle Incentives and Subsidies: A Global Comparison

    This article has been contributed by Rohit Vadera, CEO, PURE EV.

    Global electric vehicle (EV) markets today differ widely, shaped by different levels of policy support, corporate activity, consumer preference and awareness, driving patterns, and cultural specificities. The success of EVs is being driven by multiple factors. Sustained policy support is the main pillar. Public spending on subsidies and incentives for EVs nearly doubled in 2021 to nearly USD 30 billion.

    A growing number of countries have pledged to phase out internal combustion engines or have significant vehicle electrification targets for the coming decades. The role of policy has been particularly significant in steering corporate strategy towards electrification and enabling consumer uptake.

    Global Expansion of Incentives and Subsidies
    EV Adaptation and Supply Chains
    Incensing Demand for Light-Duty Vehicles
    Purchase Incentives
    Charging Infrastructure Incentives
    Economically Effective Strategies/Subsidies for Consumers

    Global Expansion of Incentives and Subsidies

    In today’s major EV markets, including China, Europe, and the United States, early adoption was jump-started in many cases by policies to spur demand, such as vehicle purchase incentives. Direct incentives for carmakers were also used in China. Many of these countries and regions are now seeing EV markets maturing, for which sales shares are increasing rapidly. More developed markets, such as China and several European countries, are now progressively decreasing or phasing out incentive schemes for electric cars and shifting focus towards other segments, such as heavy transport and charging.

    EV Adaptation and Supply Chains

    Some global leaders in major markets have further increased their targets for EV adoption and are working to address other parts of EV supply chains, such as through policy support for vehicle and battery manufacturing and critical mineral supply chains. Many other countries outside the major markets have also started introducing policies to support EV adoption in recent years, for the first time in some cases.

    Policies are also shifting towards electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), or charging, and currently, almost 80% of global EV sales (LDV and HDV) are covered by EVSE-related policy. Countries are increasingly dedicating funds to EVSE deployment, acknowledging that a lack of charging infrastructure can be a critical barrier to EV adoption.

    Incensing Demand for Light-Duty Vehicles

    As in recent years, most policies supporting EVs target the electric light-duty vehicle (LDV) segment, for which market maturity is most advanced and vehicle availability is greatest. In 2022, more than 90% of global sales of LDVs were covered by the policy that encourages EV uptake. Typical policies include fuel economy and pollutant standards; zero-emission vehicle mandates; economic and budgetary regulation for fuels and vehicles, such as through fiscal regimes and taxation; purchase incentives and subsidies; and bans on internal combustion engine (ICE)-only vehicles.

    Purchase Incentives

    Many countries offer direct financial incentives to reduce the upfront cost of purchasing an electric vehicle. These incentives may include tax credits, rebates, grants, or discounts on the purchase price. The amount varies widely and may be influenced by factors such as the EV’s battery size, range, or purchase price.

    Charging Infrastructure Incentives

    Many countries invest in building a robust EV charging infrastructure by offering subsidies or grants to businesses and local governments that install charging stations. This helps alleviate “range anxiety” for potential EV buyers. Examples include, in Norway, the funding of EV charging points every 50km on the major roads. In Germany, some banks offer EV incentives of 10–30% for the installation of wall box chargers.

    Economically Effective Strategies/Subsidies for Consumers

    Understanding the diverse ways in which households consume energy is another key step in designing effective subsidy policies for a sustainable commute.

    The findings could be helpful for implementing energy efficiency subsidy programs that target low-income households. For instance, they might be used to identify appliances low-income households are more likely to purchase as their economic situations improve. Policymakers can then develop subsidies to boost access to more energy-efficient options. Such policies would help these households sustain their economic gains while also supporting energy efficiency goals and cheaper commuting options.

    Lucrative incentives and supportive policies are bolstering the growth of EV adoption worldwide. India recently launched FAME II to catapult EV adoption in India. Similarly, Europe and other developed countries have rolled out incentives and subsidies for EV purchases, manufacturing, and charging infrastructure. Subsidies on road tax and loans to purchase an EV are attracting consumers to adopt EVs. Government support through favorable policies supporting EVs has increased demand for EVs.

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