Gov’t Mulls to Subsidize EV Charging Infrastructure: Power Secretary

The government is expected to bring in thoughtful methods to feasibly produce chargers and stations and whether it needs subsidy.

Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) would have expected delay but not deaf ears of the power ministry as it had asked a month ago that Electric Vehicle (EV) subsidy should be connected to vehicle’s efficiency and not battery power.  The government seems to turn a deaf ear to SMEV as it is heard of considering providing subsidy for encouraging setting up of e-vehicle charging infrastructure under a policy, to be unveiled in coming days, according to the Power Secretary, A K Bhalla.

Speaking at an event, Bhalla pointed out, electric vehicle adoption is a “chicken and egg story” because charging stations would not be set up without enough e-vehicles and e-vehicles sales would not pick up unless there is enough facility to charge these vehicles.

The government is expected to bring in thoughtful methods to feasibly produce chargers and stations and whether it needs subsidy.

“We are bringing a policy in consultation with heavy industries ministry that how these electric vehicles chargers can be established. Whether we need to support that with subsidy to begin with”, he said speaking at the launch of ‘InnovateToINSPIRE’: Creating Future Energy Solutions” by the World Bank, World Resources Institute (WRI), and Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL).

He further added, “E-mobility is an area where government has been working. We have clarified that for (setting up) charging infra does not need a license as it is service oriented activity. In draft tariff policy, we have put certain policy statement for encouraging power supply to these charging stations. We have notified technical standards for charging infrastructure.”

Meanwhile, he also mentioned about government’s success of UJALA scheme, pointing out that it has led to huge savings, 118 crore LED bulbs being distributed against the targeted 77 crore.

During the address, the government was also projected as its Electric vehicles mission is facing a gap between the energy requirement and supply.

Source: PTI