New EV Charging Norms: No Licence To Set Up Public Stations, Government To Offer Land
The new guidelines cover tariff and measures to boost EV charging infrastructure in India.
India allowed operators to set up public charging stations for electric vehicles without a licence and will provide land on a revenue-sharing model as the nation looks to build an ecosystem for battery-powered mobility and curb one of the world's worst air pollution.
State government will fix tariff for charging stations under the new consolidated rules promulgated by the Ministry of Power, according to a government statement. Individual owners can now charge their vehicles at home using existing electricity connections.
The guidelines replace October 2019 norms and amendments made in June 2020.
The revised norms encourage shift towards cleaner transport when automakers including Tata Motors Ltd., Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. and Hyundai Motors India Ltd. have committed investments in electric vehicles. It's part of a larger plan to curb import of fossil fuels and clean up toxic air in Indian cities, some of which rank among places with the worst air pollution.
No Licence Needed To Set Up Charging Stations
The government has allowed any individual or entity to set up public charging stations without the need for a licence. The only requirement to be satisfied is that such stations adhere to the norms and guidelines set by the authorities.
Public Land For Charging Stations
Public land will be made available for charging infrastructure under two models:
Land available with the government and public entities will be provided to public or government entities to set up charging stations. The operators will pay a fixed rate of Re 1 per kilowatt hour to the land-owning agency on a quarterly basis.
The guidelines also allow a revenue-sharing model for providing government land for setting up these stations to both public and private entities at a floor price of Re 1 per kilowatt hour.
States To Fix Service Charge Ceiling
The electricity supply tariff for charging stations will be a single part tariff no exceeding the average cost of supply till March 31, 2025. The charging stations have been granted freedom to obtain electricity from any power generation company.
As electricity is being provided at concessional rates and also considering that subsidy is being provided by the central and states for setting up charging stations, the state government shall fix the ceiling of service charges levied to consumers.
A Least One Charging Station In 3x3-Km Grid
The government aims to cover all cities with a population of more than four million with charging infrastructure within three years. That includes existing expressways and important highways connected to these cities.
The guidelines target at least one charging station in a grid of 3x3 kilometres, and at every 25km on both sides of highways. And it plans one fast charging-station every 100 km for long-range or heavy vehicles including buses and trucks.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency will be the central nodal agency for the rollout of the charging infrastrcuture. All relevant agencies including Central Electricity Authority will provide necessary support.
States are required to nominate a nodal agency each. The guidelines recommend that the state discom should generally be the nodal agency but has given them the freedom to select any central or state public sector undertakings, including urban local bodies.