Ministry of Power Updates Guidelines for Installing EV Charging Infra 2024
To make the installation of public charging stations more financially viable, the guidelines introduce a revenue-sharing model where government or public entities can provide land at subsidized rates to operators.
September 18, 2024. By Aishwarya
These revised guidelines supersede earlier versions and aim to provide greater clarity on the responsibilities and processes for setting up charging stations in both public and private spaces, as well as in semi-restricted areas such as office complexes, educational institutions, hospitals, and highways. The guidelines also apply to power utilities and various government agencies tasked with the rollout of this infrastructure.
A central focus of the guidelines is the creation of a safe, reliable, and easily accessible charging network. To facilitate this, the government encourages the installation of charging stations in essential locations like commercial complexes, railway stations, airports, metro stations, and along highways.
Charging stations are expected to be integrated into existing infrastructure such as petrol stations, shopping malls, and municipal parking spaces. The guidelines also aim to ensure a seamless experience for users, providing specific protocols for the design, safety, and functionality of charging stations.
The issued guidelines emphasize the importance of promoting EV charging during solar hours, supporting the use of renewable energy in powering electric vehicles. The government encourages integrating solar energy into charging infrastructure, which would not only reduce the burden on the national grid but also promote sustainable energy use. Furthermore, they outline procedures for obtaining electricity connections, with specified timeframes for metropolitan, municipal, and rural areas, ensuring that no unnecessary delays occur in connecting charging stations to the grid.
To make the installation of public charging stations more financially viable, the guidelines introduce a revenue-sharing model where government or public entities can provide land at subsidized rates to operators. The land-owning agency would then receive a share of the revenue based on the electricity consumed at the charging station, initially set for a 10-year period.
In terms of tariffs, the updated guidelines specify that the cost of electricity for EV charging stations will not exceed the ‘Average Cost of Supply’ until March 2028. Moreover, the tariffs will vary based on the time of day, with a lower rate applied during solar hours (9 AM to 4 PM) to encourage charging when renewable energy is more readily available.
Expressing his views on the same, Akihiro Ueda, CEO, Terra Charge, said, “I think the recent revisions following the launch of the PM E-DRIVE scheme are very timely and could catalyze the expansion of India’s EV charging network. We can all agree that limited charging infrastructure continues to hinder India from achieving the EV@2030 goals. However, the renewed focus on deploying advanced charging stations and 74,300 fast chargers could be a masterstroke that supports India’s green energy vision. I am particularly keen to see the impact of the revised guidelines for the revenue-sharing model for land ownership on small operators. Given the rising demand for charging hubs in both public and restricted areas, these revisions could help improve profit margins for charging station owners and boost future investments.”
These guidelines also provide specifications for the types of chargers required in different locations. Public charging stations in urban areas must meet a minimum density, with at least one charging station available within a 1 km x 1 km grid by 2030.
On highways, charging stations are to be placed every 20 km for regular EVs and every 100 km for long-range and heavy-duty vehicles like buses and trucks. The Ministry of Power has also mandated that larger charging stations provide additional amenities such as washrooms, drinking water, and surveillance for customer convenience and safety.
The guidelines also promote open communication protocols, encouraging operators to use standardized systems like the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) to allow for real-time monitoring, booking, and payment options.
This ensures that the user experience remains consistent and user-friendly across various charging stations nationwide. Data-sharing protocols will be enforced to maintain a national database of all public charging stations, allowing users to easily locate charging points through apps or online platforms.
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