North India’s First-of-its-kind Public Charging Station Inaugurated in Panchkula

With an aim to promote e-mobility in the state of Haryana, a First-of-its-kind public EV charging station has been commissioned in Panchkula

With an aim to promote e-mobility in the state of Haryana, Tarun Kapoor, Secretary to Govt. of India (Petroleum and Natural Gas) recently inaugurated Haryana’s First-of-its-kind public charging station for charging all types of electric vehicles (EVs) at the head office of the Haryana Renewable Energy Department Agency (HAREDA), Panchkula.

Capable of charging any type or model of EV, this is the first-of-its-kind charging station in North India where all battery vehicles can be charged free of cost. It has been set up by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a JV of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Ministry of Power, Government of India as a part of an agreement with HAREDA. The installation is part of EESL’s PCS pilot phase in the state and shall be open to the public for use, free of cost. HAREDA will bear its entire cost of installation and maintenance.

Inaugurating the EV charging station and flagging off the EVs, Tarun Kapoor said, “this one-of-its-kind public charging station gives EV owners the freedom to choose their preferred EV, based on their respective mobility needs. With charging infrastructure that can address local needs, Haryana has the potential to greatly accelerate EV adoption and reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, thereby reducing vehicular emissions and decreasing India’s import of petrol-based fuels.

The dignitaries also flagged off five EVs which were handed over by EESL to HAREDA on a dry-lease monthly agreement. Among the five EVs, a Hyundai Kona EV has been deployed at the Head office of the Department in Panchkula while one Tata Nexon EV each will be deployed in district offices of the Department in Gurugram, Faridabad, Panchkula and Karnal.

The department is also actively working for the promotion and adoption of EV charging stations and EVs in the state and as signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of EESL for a joint partnership to deploy EV charging infrastructure across the state, starting with Gurugram, Faridabad, Panchkula and Karnal. The MoU was signed by Dr. Hanif Qureshi, DG HAREDA and Rajneesh Rana, GM & Cluster Head (North), EESL.

Dr. Hanif Qureshi, Director General, HAREDA, said that EVs are the only solution to address increasing vehicular pollution in the country. For the promotion of EVs, the first step is to provide a charging facility in the state. “HAREDA is committed to creating an infrastructure for EV charging facility all over Haryana, but in the first phase, highways and major cities will be covered. A huge demand has been recently noted for personal mobility vehicles in the State, making this the right time to promote EV adoption. To ensure awareness and adoption, initially, the department will provide a free charging facility from this EV charging station.”

The department is also planning to sign MOU with TATA Power to expand the creation of infrastructure charging stations and EVs across Haryana.