In a bid to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in India, Ministry of Power issued “Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles — Guidelines and Standards” in 2018 which were amended from time to time. Recently, some suggestions from stakeholders were incorporated in revised consolidated guidelines titled “Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure-2024.”
These guidelines shall be applicable to manufacturers, owners and operators of EV Charging Infrastructure located In private parking spaces, In semi restricted places like office buildings, educational institutions, hospitals, Group Housing Societies, e-bus depots and in public places like commercial complexes, railway stations, petrol pumps, airports, metro stations, shopping arcades, municipal parking and on highways & expressways, power utilities and Central and State agencies.
Objectives:
- To drive EV adoption by making charging stations safe, reliable and accessible
- To develop a robust charging network prioritising the essential locations
- To increase the viability of charging stations by facilitating public land at promotional rates, expeditious approval of electricity connections and standardising pricing of power supply
- To encourage charging of EVs during solar hours
- To prepare the electricity grid to handle the increased demand from EV charging
According to the guidelines, distribution licensees will charge 0.7 times and 1.3 times the Average Cost of Supply (ACoS) during solar hours and non-solar hours respectively. The government or public entities would provide land at subsidized rates to private operators in exchange for a share of the revenue over a 10-year period, calculated based on the electricity consumed at the charging station.
As per the revised guidelines, urban centers are expected to have one charging station within every square kilometer by 2030. Fast-charging stations will be installed every 100 kilometers on highways for heavy-duty electric vehicles like trucks and buses, with smaller vehicles covered every 20 kilometers.
Additionally, the guidelines support charging EVs during solar hours, reducing the pressure on the electricity grid. New provisions are also included for preparing the grid to handle the increasing demand from EV charging, enhancing grid stability, and promoting smart charging technologies.
The progress and implementation of these guidelines would be monitored by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). Each state will designate a State Nodal Agency to coordinate with DISCOMs for facilitating electricity connections for various charging stations.