EV owners can now use existing electricity connections at home for charging vehicles: Govt

• 'Any individual/entity is free to set up public EV charging stations without the requirement of a license'
• 'The state government shall fix the ceiling of service charges to be charged by public EV charging stations'

New Delhi: Electric Vehicle (EV) owners can now charge their EVs at their residence/office using the existing electricity connections, the Ministry of Power said on Saturday as it revised guidelines and standards for charging infrastructure for EVs. "The Union Ministry of Power has promulgated the revised consolidated Guidelines & Standards for Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles (EV) on 14th January, 2022. The objective is to enable a faster adoption of electric vehicles in India by ensuring safe, reliable, accessible and affordable Charging Infrastructure and eco-system. This would also promote energy security and reduction of emission intensity of the country by promotion of entire EV ecosystem," the Power Ministry said in an official statement.

"In a significant step, owners may charge their Electric Vehicles at their residence/offices using their existing electricity connections," said the ministry.

Public EV charging stations can be set up without licence

Any individual/entity is free to set up public EV charging stations without the requirement of a license provided that, such stations meet the technical, safety as well as performance standards and protocols laid down under the guidelines as well as norms/ standards/ specifications laid down by Ministry of Power, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Central Electricity Authority (CEA) from time to time, the Power Ministry has said. An exhaustive list of compliance requirements for Public Charging Station (PCS) have also been outlined. These include norms for "appropriate" infrastructure for civil, electricity and safety requirements.

It said that the guidelines have been made further technology-agnostic by providing for not only the prevailing international charging standards available in the market but also the new Indian charging standards.

Land to be made available for public charging stations on revenue-sharing model

In order to address the challenge of making a charging station financially viable in the period of growth of EVs, the Ministry of Power has put in place a revenue-sharing model for land used. "Land available with the Government/Public entities shall be provided for installation of Public Charging Stations to a Government/Public entity on a revenue-sharing basis for the installation of Public Charging Station at a fixed rate of Rs 1/kWh (used for charging) to be paid to the Land-Owning Agency from such PCS business payable on quarterly basis," said the government. 

A model revenue sharing agreement has also been included under the guidelines. 

"Such revenue-sharing agreement may be initially entered by parties for a period of 10 years. The Revenue Sharing Model may also be adopted by the public Land-owning agency for providing the land to a private entity for installation of Public Charging Stations on bidding basis with floor price of Rs 1/kWh," it said. 

Timelines and tariff

Timelines for public EV charging stations have been prescribed as per the Electricity (Rights of Consumers). "Accordingly, PCS shall be provided connection within seven days in metro cities, fifteen days in other municipal areas and thirty days in rural areas. Within these timelines the distribution licensees shall provide new connection or modify an existing connection," said the ministry.

The tariff for the supply of electricity to public EV charging stations shall be a single part tariff and shall not exceed the "Average Cost of Supply" till March 31, 2025. "The same tariff shall be applicable for Battery Charging Station (BCS). The tariff applicable for domestic consumption shall be applicable for domestic charging," the government said. 

"As electricity is being provided at concessional rates and also considering the fact that subsidy is being provided by the central/state governments in many cases for setting up PCS, the state government shall fix the ceiling of service charges to be charged by such charging stations," said the statement.

Phased roll out of EV charging infra

In addition to this, the government also said that the EV Public Charging Infrastructure will be rolled out in a phased manner. 

Phase I (one to three years): All Mega Cities with a population of 4 million-plus as per census 2011, all existing expressways connected to these Mega-Cities & important Highways connected with each of these Mega Cities may be taken up for coverage. A list of these Mega Cities and existing connected expressways is prepared

Phase II (three to five Years): Big cities like State Capitals, UT headquarters may also be covered for distributed and demonstrative effect. Further, important Highways connected with each of these Mega Cities may be taken up for coverage.

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