To accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), the Delhi government plans to introduce advanced and cost-effective charging points and battery-swapping stations at 42 new locations across the capital city.
At these locations, individuals will have the opportunity to charge their vehicles at an approximate rate of Rs 3 per unit. This expansion will bring the total number of public charging points established by Delhi Transco Limited to 173, along with 62 battery-swapping facilities spread across 53 locations.
Officials believe that this move will bolster the EV charging infrastructure in Delhi and encourage more people to embrace electric vehicles. Delhi is recognized as the EV hub of the country, with over 5,000 EV registrations occurring in the city each month. To date, more than 2.2 lakh electric vehicles have been registered in Delhi.
Since the launch of the EV policy in August 2020, which offers subsidies for electric vehicle purchases, nearly 1.3 lakh electric vehicles have been introduced on the city’s roads. The policy aims to achieve 25% electric vehicle penetration in all new vehicle registrations by 2024.
The new charging points have been strategically placed at various locations, including metro stations such as Shadipur, Janakpuri East, Uttam Nagar East, Rajendra Place, and Dilshad Garden. The Delhi government has provided a map on their website to assist people in locating the nearest charging points.
Remarkably, the charging rate at these locations established by Delhi Transco Limited is significantly lower compared to private charging stations and those installed by other government agencies, which typically charge around Rs 9-10 per unit.
According to a government official from Delhi, this groundbreaking tender introduces a unique approach in India by utilizing a public-private partnership model for establishing EV chargers. This pioneering initiative has led to the lowest charging rate in the country, with an approximate cost of nearly Rs 3 per unit. By leveraging this innovative model, the government aims to promote the widespread adoption of electric vehicles and make charging more affordable for EV owners. Under the Delhi Transco Limited tender, a total of 896 public charging points and 103 battery-swapping stations are being installed.
To further promote EV adoption, the Delhi government has also launched a facility where consumers can request the installation of private EV charging points at their residences, group housing societies, apartment complexes, RWA offices, and commercial shops through authorized vendors listed by the power distribution companies (discoms).
According to the Central Electricity Authority’s report for the 2022-23 fiscal year, EV charging stations across India consumed 205 million units of electricity, with Delhi accounting for over 55% of this consumption, utilizing 113.4 million units.
Officials state that Delhi’s EV policy, which will complete its three-year term in August, has achieved approximately 86% of its measures and targets so far.
