On October 4, 2019 the Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy (IC) and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Raj Kumar Singh approved the amendment in Electric Vehicle(EV) charging guidelines and specifications. This amendment will supersede the previous guidelines issued by power ministry in 2018 with the revised guidelines being more consumer friendly. These revised guidelines will also help in faster adoption of EVs. Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statutory body under Ministry of Power has been nominated as the Central Nodal Agency for providing the guidelines.
Key points
i. Charging infrastructure guidelines: Charging infrastructures will be installed in a phased manner across the country based on the following guidelines.
- A charging station would be made available in a grid of 3 Km X 3 Km in the cities.
- Charging Station will be made available at every 25 Km on both sides of highways/roads.
- Fast charging stations, one on each side of highways shall be installed at every 100kms for long range and/or heavy duty EVs like buses/trucks etc., concerning the inter-city travel. It will be located with/alongside Public Charging Station (PCS).
- The PCS owners have the freedom to install the type and number of chargers as per the market requirement, with the guideline specification for different types of chargers with different standards. They can also install new chargers whenever notified newly in the guideline.
- It is reiterated in the guideline that setting up of PCS shall be a de-licensed activity and any individual/entity is free to set up public charging stations.
ii. Phases: In phase 1, of time period 1-3 years, all existing expressways will be connected to Mega cities & important highways, with each of these Mega Cities to be taken up for coverage. In phase 2 of time period 3-5years, all big cities like state capitals and Union Territories(UT) headquarters will be connected.
iii. Installation: The density/distance requirements will be used by the concerned state/UT/their Agencies for land use planning for PCS as well as for priority in installation of distribution network including transformers/feeders etc by the DISCOMs (Distribution Companies). Private charging is also permitted in the new guidelines and the same may be facilitated by the DISCOMs.
iv. Nodal agencies: A provision for State Nodal Agency for the respective states has been provided for in the guidelines.These Nodal Agencies will act as the key facilitator in installation of Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles across the nation.
Tariff policy: The tariff for the electricity to PCS shall be determined by the appropriate commission in accordance with the Tariff policy issued under section 3 of the Electricity Act 2003, in a timely manner.
About Ministry of Power & Renewable energy:
Founded- 2 July 1992.
Headquarters- New Delhi.
About BEE:
Founded- 1 March 2002.
Headquarters- New Delhi.