Government Considers Installing EV Charging Kiosks at Around 69,000 Petrol Pumps in Country

• The government is mulling setting up at least one electric vehicle (EV) charging kiosk each at nearly 69,000 petrol pumps across the country.
• The EV charging facility at all petrol pumps could boost e-mobility in a big way as a lack of such infrastructure discourages people from buying EVs.
• Earlier in July, the power ministry banned the import of equipment (power) from prior reference nations (China and Pakistan).

The government is mulling setting up at least one electric vehicle (EV) charging kiosk each at nearly 69,000 petrol pumps across the country to induce people to go for electric mobility.

Besides, the government is also thinking of making it compulsory to install EV charging kiosks at all Company-Owned, Company-Operated (COCO) petrol pumps of state refiners.

According to a source, Power Minister R K Singh, in a review meeting on EV charging infrastructure, suggested that they may issue an order for their oil marketing companies (OMCs) under their administrative control for setting up charging kiosks at all COCO petrol pumps.

Also read: IIT Alumni Council To Set Up 6 Research Center For The Indian Startups

Other franchisee petrol pump operators may also be advised to have at least one charging kiosk at their fuel stations. This will help achieve the EV charging facilities at all petrol pumps in the country.

Under the new guidelines of the oil ministry, new petrol pumps must have an option of one alternative fuel.

"Most of the new petrol pumps are opting for electric vehicle charging facility under alternative fuel option. But it will make a huge difference when the existing petrol pumps would also install EV charging kiosks," the source said.

The power ministry has also chalked out a plan to focus on Delhi National Capital Region, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Vadodara, and Bhopal for creating EV charging infrastructure in cities as well as on highways to encourage people to switch over to electric mobility.

The EV charging facility at all petrol pumps could boost e-mobility in a big way as lack of such infrastructure discourages people from buying EVs.

The source said, "The minister is of the view that putting up two or three charging stations in any city would be a waste of funds. Besides, the central government is looking at complete electrification of public transport in Delhi, which can later be followed in other cities."

Also read: Andhra Pradesh Tops ‘Ease of Doing Business’ Rankings 2019 For The 3rd Time in a Row

In July, the power ministry banned the import of equipment (power) from prior reference nations (China and Pakistan).

The power ministry had also made testing mandatory for power equipment imported from prior reference nations to check for any kind of embedded malware or trojans or cyber threat and for adherence to Indian standards.

Earlier in June the Indian government's energy service company, better known as Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), has announced that it plans to install roughly 10,000 EV charging stations across India in the next two to three years.