The EV chargers will be installed at multiple locations from hospitals to railway and metro stations, parking lots, bus depots and highways. (Representative image)
The government has rolled out detailed guidelines for setting up electric vehicle public charging stations (EV PCS) under the PM E-DRIVE scheme. With Rs 2,000 crore earmarked for charging infrastructure, the plan is to make charging points as common as fuel pumps, so EV users can plug in at everyday locations instead of looking for any specific charging station.
Where chargers will come up
In an official notification, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) said that chargers will be installed at places where people already go regularly -- government offices, hospitals, railway and metro stations, airports, malls, parking lots, bus depots and even fuel stations run by public sector oil companies. Highways, too, are part of the plan, with chargers at toll plazas and way-side amenities to support long-distance travel.
The subsidy support will vary by location.
Category A (government offices, hospitals, colleges, CPSEs): 100% subsidy on both infrastructure and chargers.
Category B (airports, metro stations, PSU fuel pumps, bus stations, parking lots, toll plazas): 80% subsidy on infrastructure and 70% on chargers.
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Category C (other public places like malls and market complexes): 80% subsidy on infrastructure.
Category D (battery swapping/charging stations): 80% subsidy on infrastructure.
All types of EVs covered
The scheme covers chargers for everything from two-wheelers and three-wheelers to cars, buses and trucks. Smaller chargers of up to 12kW will be installed for scooters and rickshaws, while bigger CCS-II fast chargers ranging from 50kW to 500kW will serve cars, buses and heavy vehicles. For buses and trucks, each charging gun will need to deliver at least 120kW for quicker turnaround.
Battery swapping and battery charging stations are also eligible for support, which will particularly help commercial EV users like autorickshaw drivers and delivery fleets.
Highway travel to get easier
Apart from cities, the guidelines push for making inter-city and inter-state highways 'EV ready'. Nodal agencies will identify routes in consultation with the road ministry. High-traffic stretches that connect major cities, ports and industrial hubs have been prioritised. This is expected to reduce range anxiety for EV users planning long trips.
One app for all chargers
To make things simpler for users, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has been appointed the project implementation agency. It will build a national unified hub and a mobile app that will list all public chargers across the country. EV owners will be able to find a station, check availability in real time, book a slot and pay digitally, all on one platform.
What it means for consumers
With the government covering up to 100% of installation costs in some cases, operators will have lower expenses, which could help keep charging tariffs reasonable. For users, the bigger change is convenience, being able to charge at offices, malls, hospitals or while on a highway journey, without worrying about where the next charger is.
The guidelines regarding EV PCS are part of the larger Rs 10,900 crore PM E-DRIVE scheme, cleared in 2024, which aims to push faster adoption of EVs.
