2021 Review: EV Charging Stations along National Highways

On 22nd December 2021, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha highlighted the steps taken by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways for the adoption of electric vehicles (ev) and the use of alternative fuels in the last two years are as under:

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways vide GSR 525(E) dated 2nd August, 2021 has exempted battery operated vehicles from the payment of fees for the purpose of issue or renewal of registration certificate and assignment of new registration mark.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued an advisory dated 12th August, 2020 to all States and UTs regarding sale and registration of Electric Vehicles without batteries. 
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified various rules/regulations relating to the  mass emission standards of M85 (Methanol 85) and Di-Methyl Ether (DME or D100) Vehicles, Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles,  Hydrogen CNG,  Ethanol 12, Ethanol 15 and Ethanol 20 and safety roadmap for ethanol and its blend with gasoline.
• Electric vehicle Charging Stations are to be provided by the developer as part of the Wayside Amenities (WSAs) being awarded by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). NHAI has already awarded 39 such facilities and the proposals for 103 such sites are at bidding stage. Further, additional WSA sites, as and when identified by the Authority, would also be put up for bidding. The works which have been already awarded are expected to be completed by the end of FY 2022-23.
• Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) had invited proposals from Government Organizations/Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) (State/Central)/ Government DISCOMs/ Oil Public Sector Undertakings and similar other Public/Private entities to build and operate Public Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure on Expressways and National Highways under FAME India Scheme Phase-II, wherein the  consortium of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) and Convergence Energy Services Ltd (subsidiary of EESL) has been awarded the work for setting up of EV charging stations along 16 NH/Expressways.
• In order to facilitate EESL in the above prospect, NHAI has signed an MOU with EESL. As per this MoU, NHAI shall provide space/land near the toll plazas and its buildings for installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, based on revenue sharing model. The space/land for the same shall be provided to EESL at no cost basis for a duration, as decided by NHAI. This would not only assist in promoting clean/green energy and conserving the environment but could also be a source of revenue for NHAI.
• Further, the Ministry of Power, vide memorandum dated 14th December, 2018, has published guidelines and standards for the charging infrastructure of electric vehicles, which are available on [www.powermin.nic.in]. These guidelines have been revised on 01.10.2019. These guidelines stipulate the requirements regarding density/distance between two charging points and specify the priorities for rolling out of electric vehicle public charging infrastructure.

On a separate question on Number of electric vehicles in the country ? Minister of State for Heavy Industries Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on 21st December 2021 as:

The use of electric vehicles is increasing in the country. As per the e-vahan portal (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways), at present there are about 8.77 lakhs active electric vehicles are on Indian roads as on 08.12.2021.

Under Phase-II of FAME-India Scheme, incentives are provided to buyers of electric vehicles in the form of an upfront reduction in the purchase price of electric vehicles.

Further, following two Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes are being implemented by the Ministry of Heavy Industries for promotion of manufacturing of electric vehicles:

1. The union cabinet on 12th May, 2021 approved a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for setting up manufacturing facilities for Advance Chemistry Cell (ACC), Battery Storage in India, with a total manufacturing capacity of 50 Giga Watt Hour (GWh) and with an outlay of Rs. 18,100 crores for 5 years.
2. Government has approved the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 25,938 crores over a period of five years. Electric vehicles are covered under Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components.
3. GST on electric vehicles has been reduced from 12% to 5%; GST on chargers/ charging stations for electric vehicles has been reduced from 18% to 5%.
4. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) announced that battery-operated vehicles will be given green license plates and be exempted from permit requirements.
5. MoRTH issued a notification advising states to waive road tax on EVs, which in turn will help reduce the initial cost of EVs.