India is accelerating its transition to electric vehicles (EVs) with the injection of around €90 million ($106 million) in funding from the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) program. The money will be directed towards expanding the country’s fast-charging infrastructure, with India’s three main mineral oil companies — Indian Oil (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) — receiving €8 billion ($9.4 billion) to build nearly 7,500 new public DC charge points.
The move aims to address the issue of land availability that many Charge Point Operators (CPOs) face. By partnering with state-owned petroleum companies, the Indian government can make use of the land already owned by these entities to install new charging infrastructure. This, in turn, is expected to encourage more drivers to switch to EVs and make charging a more convenient and accessible process.
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“Considering the difficulty that CPOs face in unavailability of sufficient land, the Ministry of Heavy Industries has taken up the matter with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to explore the possibility of setting up charging stations at the companies’ outlets,” the government announced.
The funding will be used to install 7,432 new fast chargers, including 5,662 with 50 kW or 60 kW capacity and 1,770 with 100 kW or 120 kW capacity. These new charging stations are expected to come online by March 2024 and will be able to charge electric 2-wheelers, 4-wheelers, light commercial vehicles, and minibuses.
According to the Indian government, there are currently 6,586 charging stations across the country. However, this number is expected to rise significantly with the new funding injection, which will help the country achieve its goal of having 30% of all vehicles on Indian roads running on electricity by 2030.
The FAME program has been in operation for several years, with the government extending FAME II in June 2021 until 31 May 2024. The program offers subsidies worth $1.4 billion in total, aiming to increase the uptake of EVs in the country.
“Electric mobility is the future of transportation, and India is committed to reducing its carbon footprint. The FAME program is an important step towards this goal, and we are pleased to see the government’s continued commitment to supporting the transition to EVs,” said an industry expert.
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The expansion of India’s fast-charging infrastructure is set to have a positive impact on the country’s economy and environment, with a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and increased investment in the EV sector. As India moves towards a more sustainable future, the expansion of its fast-charging infrastructure is a significant step in the right direction.
