Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), India’s largest oil marketing company, has launched an electric-vehicle fast-charging corridor along the Chennai-Trichy-Madurai route, with charging infrastructure installed at 10 of its gas stations. Along the 900-kilometer route, the company has installed additional charging stations. These stations have been installed on both sides of the highway to provide electric vehicle drivers with easy access. Given that BPCL has put CCS-2 DC fast-chargers along the route to aid EV drivers to reduce travel time, the move is also being hailed as the formation of India’s first EV-friendly highway.
As per the report, following the launch, the company intends to concentrate on critical Indian highways with substantial traffic volumes. The corporation is apparently intending to transform more than 7,000 traditional retail stores into ‘energy stations,’ which would provide consumers with a variety of fueling options, including EV charging. Bharat Petroleum also aims to install CCS-2 electric-vehicle charging stations (EVCS) at its gasoline stations along all major national roads at regular intervals. As these highways connect major cities and economic centres, the EV sector is expected to benefit.
In December 2021, BPCL announced the signing of a MoU with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to build 10 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2040. BPCL and SECI will collaborate to develop business prospects in the renewable energy sector, including solar, wind, electric mobility, hydrogen, and waste-to-energy. Furthermore, both companies will act as a catalyst to accelerate BPCL’s journey to net-zero emissions in Scope 1 and Scope 2. By 2025, BPCL plans to have a 1 GW renewable energy portfolio.
