India's Ministry of Power (MoP) is advocating for expedited approval processes for installing EV charging stations across the country, aiming to accelerate the expansion of India's EV charging infrastructure.
Under the proposed changes, MoP intends to reduce the time for power distribution companies (DISCOMs) to provide connections for EV charging stations. In metropolitan areas, DISCOMs would be required to connect stations within 3 days, compared to the current 7 days. Similarly, in other municipal areas, the timeline would reduce to 7 days from 15 days, and in rural areas, connections would be facilitated within 15 days instead of the current 30 days.
For locations necessitating extensions to distribution mains or new substation commissions, MoP suggests that DISCOMs supply electricity within 90 days upon completion of such infrastructure upgrades. Additionally, MoP plans to establish an online single-window clearance system to facilitate faster approvals for EV charger connections, enhancing customer convenience.
The proposed regulations also outline provisions for DISCOMs to provide low-tension connections of up to 150 kW at public spaces, community areas, offices, and bus depots. MoP emphasizes the importance of State Nodal agencies and city authorities regularly mapping the potential demand for EV charging across geographic regions at least once annually.
In addressing the tariff structure for electricity supplied to EV charging stations, MoP proposes a single-part tariff not exceeding the Average Cost of Supply (ACoS) until March 31, 2026. During solar hours (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM), the cost to supply power would be 0.7 times the ACoS, rising to 1.3 times during non-solar hours.
Looking ahead, MoP targets ambitious goals by FY2030, aiming for at least one charging station per square kilometer within urban limits and one station every 20 km along highways and expressways. For long-range and heavy-duty EVs, MoP recommends deploying fast-charging stations with two 250 kW or higher-rate charging points at least every 100 km along major roads.
These proposals come after extensive consultations with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), and other stakeholders. MoP presented the draft recommendations on July 1, inviting feedback from stakeholders within a 30-day period to finalize the regulatory framework for India's evolving EV charging infrastructure.
Original Website: https://www.electrive.com/2024/07/05/india-proposes-faster-approval-for-ev-charging-stations/