EESL, BSNL Partner to Install 1,000 EV Chargers Pan India

In a step towards boosting e-mobility adoption across the country, the world’s largest energy service company (ESCO) Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with telecom major Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL).

As per the MoU signed, state-owned EESL will install 1,000 public electric vehicles (EV) charging stations in a phased manner on BSNL sites spread across India.

EESL is a joint venture of four national public sector enterprises under the power ministry of the Government of India (GoI).

Furthermore, it will also make the entire upfront investment on the services pertaining to the MoU, along with the operation and maintenance (O&M) cost of the EV charging infrastructure by using qualified personnel.

On the other side, BSNL will provide the requisite space and power connections for the installation of these EV chargers.

Commenting on the development, Saurabh Kumar, Managing Director of EESL, said that “building a strong supporting EV infrastructure is key to cultivating consumer confidence in electric vehicles and would significantly enhance consumer convenience and reduce the range anxiety as well. EESL is leading the initiatives to promote EV adoption in India under its national e-mobility programme. We are glad to partner with BSNL for synergistic action on setting up public charging infrastructure and services across India.”

The company has commissioned 300 AC and 170 DC chargers across India under the government’s vision of the National Electric Mobility Programme.

As of now, EESL’s 66 public charging points are operational in the Delhi NCR region.

Besides, it has also signed a MoU/ agreement with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), Noida Authority, Chennai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (CMRCL), Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRCL), Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Commissioner, Director of Municipal Administration (CDMA), New Town Kolkata Development Authority and Kalinga University Raipur (Chhattisgarh) for the development of Public Charging Stations (PCS) in their respective areas.

EESL works on the innovative model of demand aggregation and bulk procurement and based on this it has received EVs and their chargers at a significantly discounted rate vis-à-vis the actual market value.

Meanwhile, with access to low cost funds, the company is able to discover the most competitive project costs.