New Delhi–India now has 52,718 public electric vehicle charging stations in operation, including 16,561 stations equipped with fast chargers for passenger cars, the government told Parliament.
Minister of State for Heavy Industries Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma said in a written response to the Lok Sabha that the expansion of fast-charging facilities is helping reduce charging times and address a major concern among electric vehicle users.
The Ministry of Heavy Industries has allocated Rs 912.50 crore under the second phase of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles, or FAME-II, program to support charging infrastructure. An additional Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated under the PM E-DRIVE program for public charging stations in cities and along national highways.
The Ministry of Power has also issued its 2024 guidelines for the installation and operation of EV charging infrastructure. The standards are intended to support the development of a connected and interoperable charging network, including battery-swapping and charging facilities.
The government has classified the establishment of EV charging stations as an unlicensed activity, allowing private companies and entrepreneurs to enter the sector more easily.
Electric passenger cars are also covered under the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components. Eligible manufacturers can receive incentives ranging from 13% to 18% on incremental sales of advanced automotive technology vehicles, including electric four-wheelers.
The government has also earmarked Rs 4,391 crore under the PM E-DRIVE program for the deployment of 14,028 electric buses.
Of those, 13,800 buses have been allocated to Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune and Surat. The government said the operator selection process for all 13,800 buses has been completed in two phases. (Source: IANS)
