MoHI Sanctions 1576 EV Charging Stations Under Phase-II of FAME India Scheme
The Ministry of Heavy Industries has sanctioned 2877 charging stations in 68 cities across 25 states/UTs under Phase-II of the FAME India Scheme. Further, MHI has sanctioned 1576 EV Charging Stations across 16 Highways & 9 Expressways under this phase. Further, as per the Ministry of Power guidelines, there shall be at least one charging station at every 25 km on both sides of the Highway and also at least one Charging Station for long Range/Heavy Duty EVs at every 100 km on both sides of the Highway. For the city, at least one charging station will be set up in a grid of 3km x 3km. The Ministry of Heavy Industries had sanctioned about 520 Charging Stations/ Infrastructure for about Rs. 43 Crore under Phase-I of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme. Also a budget provision of Rs. 1000 Crore has been earmarked for a period of 5 years (2019-20 to 2023-24) for the establishment of charging infrastructure under Phase-II of the FAME India Scheme.
Exicom Installs 5000 EV Charger Across India In 4 Years
Exicom installs 5000 electric vehicle chargers across India in four years. The company won the tender from Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) which was the first EV charging tender in the country. The 5000th charger was installed for Tata Power at DTC Depot, Delhi. This includes 1400 DC chargers and 3600 AC chargers in 200 cities of 20 states. The chargers are installed at fleet operators, residential communities. households, bus depots, and public charging stations. Exicom chargers are used for charging all-electric four-wheelers and electric buses which are manufactured by MG Motors, Audi, tata Motors, JBM, etc. Exicom manufactures chargers at its Gurgaon facility and it plans to set up another manufacturing unit in the financial year 2022-23 to meet the increasing demand for electric vehicles and chargers. The company also anticipates shipping 20,000 electric vehicle chargers for its customer in the same financial year.
Reliance, Ola Electric, Hyundai, & Rajesh Exports Qualify Under PLI Scheme
Total of 4 companies have been selected for the incentive under Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage. This includes Reliance New Energy Solar Limited; Ola Electric Mobility Private Limited; Hyundai Global Motors Company Limited and Rajesh Exports Limited. These companies will receive incentives under India’s ₹ 18,100 crore programme to boost local battery cell production. Commenting on the PLI Scheme for ACC Battery Storage, Union Cabinet Minister for Heavy Industries Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey said that “today, the increase in demand for EVs due to a favorable regulatory framework, has mainly attracted investment in this sector. Today big companies are investing in electric vehicle manufacturing in India and are interested to join us. We should give them more encouragement and keep trying to make India a manufacturing hub. Growth in EV segment of auto industry will definitely help us to achieve India’s commitment to Panchtantra given by Hon’ble PM Modi ji in COP 26 and will provide huge employment opportunities to Indian youth.” 10 companies submitted their bids under the Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage Programme in India for which Request for Proposal (RFP) was released by the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) on 22nd October 2021.
Suzuki Motor Signs Rs 10,445 Crore Investment Agreement With Gujrat Government
Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor Corporation said it will invest around 150 billion yen (about Rs 10,445 crore) by 2026, for local manufacturing of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and BEV batteries in Gujarat. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect with the Gujarat government. It was signed “on March 19, 2022 at the India-Japan Economic Forum held in New Delhi, India, in the presence of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Suzuki Motor Corporation said in a statement. Under the MoU, the company’s wholly-owned arm Suzuki Motor Gujarat Pvt Ltd (SMG) will invest Rs 7,300 crore for the construction of a plant for BEV batteries at a land neighboring to SMG’s existing plant by 2026. Also, SMG will invest another Rs 3,100 crore for increasing the production capacity for BEV manufacturing by 2025, the statement said.
CII Calls For Using Green Sources For Charging EVs
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has called for an early policy notification for facilitating the sourcing of power from green sources for charging Electric Vehicles. This is especially required at the standalone charging point level. Currently, it is not feasible under the ambit of prevailing electricity regulation where a minimum of 1 MW load at the point of consumption is needed to avail power under Open Access. No charging station, save a few developed as a hub, would be requiring the power of this order at one location during the initial 10 years. It is, therefore, prudent to lower the threshold of open access for sourcing power from green sources like solar. Industry bodies including CII have been seeking such policy measures which were reflected in various state EV policies where they articulated for encouraging power supply through Open Access. However, without having enabling rules framed under the statute, implementation would be difficult. Taking cognizance of such need and demand, the Union Ministry of Power came out with a draft notification on 16th August 2021 titled “Draft Electricity (promoting renewable energy through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 202” seeking comments from various stakeholders.
EV Manufactures Would Need Assistance From Government For Longer-Term – Parliament Panel
A Parliament panel in a report said that electric vehicle makers would need assistance from the government for a loner-term by the time the EV market becomes more affordable, within the reach of the general public, and self-sustainble. The panel also said that the FAME II scheme was not able to achieve the financial and physical target which were set. The MoHI needs to promote electric vehicles with research and development. Ministry needs to plan a roadmap to boost the production and sales of EVs. “The committee is of the view that the manufacturers would need the support from government on a longer-term i.e until the EV market becomes self-sustainable, more affordable, and within the reach of common man,” it said. “Further to bring down the cost of technology, the committee recommends that emphasis should be laid on faster localization of manufacturing of automobile components, which shall also be supported by increased volumes as the installation rates and vehicle volumes would grow over time,” it said.
