Automakers such as Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors and cab-hailing companies Ola and Uber, besides several state-run companies and startups have shown interest in setting up electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the country.
Setting up public charging stations shall be de-licensed and any individual is free (to set them up) provided the stations meet standards of the power ministry.
The person should apply for connectivity and the distribution company is bound to provide connectivity. Obtaining electricity from open access is also permissible.
Individuals may soon be able to open public electric vehicle charging stations without applying for licenses, though there will be a cap on the tariff they can charge from EV owners.
The government has not set any qualification criteria for opening public charging stations but these will be monitored and have to meet specifications and performance standards set by the power ministry.
State electricity regulatory commissions (SERCs) will fix tariffs for electricity supply from distribution companies to the charging stations at a ceiling of 15% over the average cost of supply. The tariff charged by charging stations from electric vehicle owners will also be capped by the state government.
The policy on electric vehicle charging infrastructure aims to enable faster adoption of EVs and affordable charging infrastructure to the vehicle owners. It also targets generation of employment opportunities for small entrepreneurs.
Reference- ET, Financial Express