To accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has unveiled guidelines for the establishment of public charging stations as part of the Rs 10,900 crore PM E-DRIVE scheme. A significant portion of the scheme, Rs 2,000 crore, is dedicated to the deployment of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points across cities and along major highways. The program offers subsidies, including potential full coverage of costs for certain categories, to stimulate accelerated implementation. Hospitals, government offices, CPSE premises, and educational institutions will be eligible for a 100% subsidy covering both infrastructure and charging equipment. Locations such as metro stations, airports, bus depots, fuel retail outlets of state-run OMCs, and railway stations will receive a 70% subsidy on charging equipment and an 80% subsidy on infrastructure. Markets, malls, other private locations, and battery swapping/charging stations will also be eligible for an 80% infrastructure subsidy. A key focus will be on setting up charging stations along the highways connecting major industrial hubs and ports. Priority will also be given to NCAP cities, state capitals, smart cities, and cities with populations exceeding one million. Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) will act as the Project Implementation Agency, while IFCI will function as the Project Management Agency. BHEL will also be tasked with developing a National Unified Hub and creating a mobile application. This app will provide real-time updates, charger location, payment options, and booking services by connecting to all EV chargers. Subsidies will be distributed in two installments: 70% at the time of equipment purchase and the remaining 30% after installation and integration with the Unified Hub. Charging standards will cater to diverse vehicle types, with up to 12 kW chargers for two and three-wheelers, and 50-500 kW fast chargers for cars, buses, and trucks. This initiative aims to eliminate a primary obstacle to widespread EV adoption: the scarcity of dependable charging infrastructure, thereby supporting India’s ambitions for sustainable transportation.
