Scope to Create Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles in India
Published on : Saturday 13-06-2020
The limited and lack of suitable charging infrastructure is primarily hindering the growth of the electric vehicles (EV) in India. Moreover, it is expected that the revised guidelines for the create charging infrastructure in India will simplify the process for creation, policies, and standards.
Below is a brief analysis from the Corporate Identity (CI) Guidelines –
EV Charging Infrastructure: Differentiation and Characteristics
Public – CI Guidelines is a delicensed activity since it is deemed to be a service, which is categorized as a public charging station. In this, any individual or private company can install and set up a charging point for long-range or heavy-duty EVs, along with variation in its charging speed level i.e. slow, moderate, or fast charging. The rollout for the setup of these charging stations is totally based on CI Guidelines and competitive bidding.
CI Guidelines are focused to initiate the installation of these public charging stations on a priority basis across the retail outlets and public places. Moreover, there will proper requirement of flexibility with the separate meter and an exclusive transformer with related substation equipment. In addition, these can setup separately with the help of obtaining electricity from any open access.
Private – CI Guidelines focused to expand its use in the country through provide permits for the establishment of charging stations for EVs at residences or offices. These are truly for self-use and any individual entity can approach the local or state nodal agency for the installation of a private charging point.
Restricted Public Use – CI Guidelines stated that these can be set up in malls, housing societies, office complexes, restaurants, hotels, and other public places. These charging points will be aimed to serve limited permitted visitors.
Charging Infrastructure: Goals & Rollout
• Aims to indorse the demand and sales of electric vehicles by providing affordable and easily accessible charging infrastructure
• Promotion for standardization of tariff chargeable from EV owners and charging station operators
• Initiate the plans and schemes to create opportunities for small entrepreneurs
• Generate employment and support creation of EV charging infrastructure
Charging Infrastructure Challenges in India
Tariff – The decision of tariff is depending on the state distribution company (DISCOM). It is expected that the state-wide differentiation in tariff will result in a lack of uniformity. There should rollout of plans to implement domestic consumption rates for the domestic charging user.
Open Access and Captive Consumption – the limited rules and regulations in the state of clarification related to types of its charging consumers. Also, the guidelines not clearly stated about the profits from open access and captive consumption by malls or industrial parks.
Time to Charge – Based on fact, the average charge time by EV batteries is nearly 5-8 hours. Thus, this creates a need for an adequate number of charging ports and further raise the demand for fast charging points in India.
Battery Swapping – The lack of standardization and clarification related to battery swapping is the main issue in the CI guidelines. Battery swapping widely provides flexibility to charge EV batteries by providing a viable solution to replace one uncharged battery with a charged battery. No regulations related to battery swapping is expected to diminish the availability of charging stations and charging points. The battery swapping concept is the main reason for the widespread growth of EVs in China.
It is expected that the CI guidelines are one of the great initiatives in enhancing the EV charging infrastructure in India, as these guidelines are addressing and provide rectification across the above-mentioned issues. It is further estimated that the successful implementation schemes and clarification under the CI guidelines will bring opportunities in the expansion of demand and sales for electric vehicles in India in the coming years.