Govt weighs EV charging expansion across key infra with ₹2,000 crore fund

The Union government is planning to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities across major public infrastructure including at airports, highways, and for the first time: ports, a senior official said, adding that the charging facilities are likely to come with battery-swapping services. 

 

The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) is in talks with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Airport Authority of India (AAI), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and multiple state governments to identify potential locations for EV charging stations at ports, highways, and airports.

 

As part of the Rs 10,900 crore PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme, a Budget of Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated for the installation of EV charging stations and battery-swapping facilities across the country. The programme aims to ensure charging connectivity for India’s rapidly growing EV market and reduce reliance on internal combustion engine vehicles.

 

India aims to increase the number of public EV charging stations from the current 32,500 to 72,300 by the end of 2025-26.

 

Airports like Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and Kochi Airport, national highways such as NH-48 (Delhi-Jaipur-Agra) and NH-179B (Chennai-Trichy), already have EV charging infrastructure. More airports and highways are now being identified for future installations, along with ports.

 

“We have received inputs from 14 states and held an interministerial meeting. Once we receive further feedback from relevant ministries, we will finalise the guidelines by April,” the official said.

 

MHI has already pinpointed 20 national highways with high truck traffic but has left it to NHAI to pursue tender processes independently. The ministry will cover 80 per cent of the costs involved, the official informed.

 

Among highways under consideration are busy routes such as Bombay-Pune and Bengaluru-Chennai. The NHAI will use its own data to determine the locations for installation, while MHI will manage the funding.

 

Queries sent to secretaries, spokespeople, and chairpeople of the involved ministries and government agencies remained unanswered till press time.

 

Under the PM E-DRIVE scheme, the Centre offers up to an 80 per cent subsidy for public fast EV charging stations, with potential for 100 per cent funding in exceptional cases, particularly in northeastern, coastal, and hilly areas.

 

Regarding battery-swapping facilities, the official said: “We will approve proposals once they are submitted by airports, ports, and NHAI, provided they adhere to the power ministry’s guidelines.”

 

There will be no restrictions on the number or size of batteries, however, safety standards implemented by the power ministry will have to be followed.

 

For instance, if the AAI is contemplating a battery-swapping station in a tender, they must specify their power capabilities and associated costs. Swapping stations will need to deliver a certain level of service based on the investment they make.

 

“To ensure this level of service, companies may need to purchase batteries. While this may not be a formal condition, it will be addressed in the service level agreement, which will cover aspects like up-time, power quality, and the specifics of the service provided. However, the number of batteries may not be specified. Ultimately, this is up to the AAI, NHAI, and states to decide,” the official added.

 

The official went on to say: “We are open to providing subsidies for swapping stations, as it is one of the provisions under PM E-DRIVE.”

 

According to an industry executive, certain companies could develop a battery-as-a-service model, similar to how gas cylinders are provided. 

 

“In this model, customers would only purchase the battery cell for their two-wheelers or cars, essentially paying for battery usage. This approach will significantly reduce the initial cost of acquiring a vehicle since the cost of the battery typically constitutes 30 to 40 per cent of the total vehicle price,” the executive said.

 

“There needs to be standardisation of batteries. The next question is how many vehicles will be designed to accommodate such batteries, as different manufacturers may prefer different solutions. This could exclude companies that use proprietary models, limiting the overall service available. It is essential to gauge how many vehicles are compatible with the swapping solution.” 

Growth lane

 

> Under PM E-DRIVE, the government has allocated ₹2,000 crore towards installation of EV charging stations

> India aims to increase EV charging stations to 72,300 by FY26 from the current 32,500 stations

> It has allocated ₹500 crore towards subsidising electric trucks for operators  > The Centre offers up to an 80% subsidy for setting up fast EV charging stations