Energetica India Magazine May-June 2021

NEWS ELECTRIC VEHICLES CESL Forays into Electric 2W & 3W Segment; Plans to Procure 30K EV; Signs EV Charging Infra Deal with Companies In an effort to further the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) in the coun- try, Central Public Sector Undertaking Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) has entered into the electric 2-wheelers (2W) and 3-wheelers (3W) segment and forged key partnerships on World Environment Day. It had signed MoUs with state govern- ments of Goa, and Kerala to procure more than 30,000 2W and 3W. This is the first entry to the 2W and 3W seg - ments in the country, with solutions uniquely designed to deliver affordable financial solutions to buyers. Under the agreements, CESL will also invest in establishing the EV charging infrastructure and monitor the use of assets. This customer-oriented ap- proach has been designed to deliver good ease-of-use and better accessi- bility. Additionally, CESL has also entered in strategic partnerships with Bharat Elec- tronics Ltd (BEL), TVS Motor Company, JBM Renewables, and Fortum India. Under these agreements, CESL and the private companies will jointly under- take the expansion and adoption of EV ecosystem. This will entail setting up of public charging infrastructure, better technological adoption in charging, explore best practices and business models as also the availability of po- tential customer segments for demand augmentation. These agreements will also include de- velopment of highway and expressway Charge Point Operators. Feasibility of park and charge facility to customers across all EV segments will also be ex- plored as part of the project. Commenting on the development, GSN Murthy, General Manager (Civilian Mar- keting), Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) said that “there is immense scope for growth in the Electric Mobility sector in India, in all its aspects especially in the Charging Infrastructure, Battery recy- cling and reuse and adoption among the masses.” “The adoption of e-mobility in India depends on the creation of an ubiqui- tous and robust charging infrastructure which will encourage consumers as well as automakers for greater partici- pation. We are happy to see that there has been a significant growth in the de - mand for public EV charging infrastruc- ture and the policy support extended by the Indian government to bolster the mass adoption of EVs in the country. This MoU is to develop jointly charging plaza in 4 million+ cities of India as well as support CESL in managing their net- work using Fortum’s capability as Net- work Service Provider (NSP) will defi - nitely provide a paradigm shift towards the sale and growth of electric vehicles in the country,” said Awadhesh Jha, Vice President, Fortum Charge and Drive India. In another significant development, NHPC Ltd, India’s premier hydropower company under Ministry of Power, has also signed E-Mobility agreements with CESL for leasing of 25 EVs and supply of 3 EV fast chargers to NHPC includ- ing its installation & commissioning. Meanwhile, a broad MoU between NHPC and EESL to explore opportuni- ties of energy efficiency and conserva - tion measures in NHPC has also been under process. 25 energetica INDIA- May-June_2021