The Ministry of Power has released guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure-2024. These guidelines will apply to public, semi-public, and private charging stations across India, including utilities, central and state agencies. Anybody can set up and operate an EV charging stations as it is a de-licensed activity. The power utilities must provide electricity connections within specific timelines (3 to 90 days) depending on the area.
According to the guidelines, Public Charging Stations can be established on public land at subsidised rates, with revenue-sharing models to lower costs. The current EV charging density targets aim for one station every 1 km in urban areas and every 20 km along highways by 2030. The EV charging stations will follow a single-part tariff system with reduced rates during solar hours (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM) and service charges for EV charging are capped depending on the type of charging (AC or DC) and time of day, to ensure transparency.
It is imperative that public stations must offer fast-charging options for long-range EVs and heavy-duty vehicles, especially along highways. E-bus depots should install charging station equipment with a minimum capacity of 240 kW. To ensure no wastage of power, Vehicle to Grid (V2G) technologies are used. They allow electric vehicles to return unused power to the grid, enabling them to act as additional energy storage.
Additionally, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is the central nodal agency, while each state will have a designated State Nodal Agency for coordination and monitoring of the rollout. BEE will also maintain a nation-wide database of public charging stations and use application programming interface (API). Public entities providing land for charging stations will enter into revenue-sharing agreements with charge point operators, receiving ₹1 per kWh of electricity sold.
