Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, today emphasized the importance of integrating battery swapping facilities alongside charging infrastructure to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in India. Speaking at a Consultation Meeting on the “Development of Battery Charging and Swapping Infrastructure,” Goyal urged that the shift towards EVs, driven by the creation of charging infrastructure, should be a “people’s movement.”
The event was co-organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). It saw the participation of prominent industry representatives from the automobile, battery, battery charging, and battery swapping sectors.
Also in attendance were Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel, Shri Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, DPIIT Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia, and senior officials from the Ministries of Power, Environment, Road Transport and Highways, and Heavy Industry. Leading representatives from companies such as Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies, SUN Mobility, TVS Motor Company, Ather Energy, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, Hero MotoCorp, and Bajaj Auto were also present.
During the meeting, industry stakeholders highlighted the potential growth of the battery swapping sector, which is projected to reach USD 20 billion by 2030. They stressed the need for a level playing field, particularly regarding subsidies and incentives, for battery swapping and fixed-battery EV manufacturers. Technological advancements, such as the use of robotics to replace batteries in just 135 seconds, were also discussed.
While safety concerns were acknowledged, stakeholders emphasized the importance of accountability and the establishment of clear standards by relevant authorities like the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Minister Goyal also outlined his vision of equipping all petrol pumps, CNG stations, and similar facilities with both battery swapping and charging infrastructure. This, he argued, would address issues such as vandalism currently affecting the sector and ensure that these facilities are widely available, preventing undue concentration in specific areas.
He further emphasized the need for collaboration between ministries, including Heavy Industry, Power, Petroleum & Natural Gas, and Housing & Urban Affairs, along with industry representatives, to ensure the effective implementation of battery swap stations across the country.
