The Centre released operational guidelines for setting up 72,300 public EV charging stations nationwide with a Rs 2,000 crore funding under the PM E-DRIVE scheme. The best part? New charging stations in government premises built on full subsidy will have to be freely open to the general public.
One of the major hurdles for EV adoption in India was the lack of reliable charging infrastructure. The latest guidelines look to mitigate the very same problem.
The guidelines, released on September 26, outline a comprehensive tiered subsidy structure designed to make charging stations accessible across different types of locations and ownership models.
Complete funding for government premises
Under the new framework, government offices, educational institutions, hospitals, and residential complexes will receive a 100 per cent subsidy covering both upstream infrastructure (the foundation and the basic structure and materials needed) and EV charging equipment. But they come with one important condition: these stations must remain freely accessible to the public.
High-traffic public locations
Public transport hubs (like bus stations) and high-traffic areas will receive more financial backing under the scheme. Railway stations, airports operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), retail outlets of state-run oil companies, bus stations run by State Transport firms, metro stations, municipal parking lots, and NHAI-controlled toll plazas will get 80 per cent subsidy on upstream infrastructure and 70 per cent on EV charging equipment.
Shopping malls, market complexes along city streets, highways, and expressways are also covered under the 80 per cent upstream infrastructure subsidy category. Battery swapping stations and battery charging stations deployed at any location will also get an 80 per cent subsidy on upstream infrastructure costs.
Strategic implementation through BHEL
The government has designated Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) as the Project Implementation Agency for this nationwide rollout. Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy said that BHEL will also develop a unified digital platform, a "super app", that will integrate all EV chargers across the country.
"India is on track to become a global benchmark for sustainable transportation," Kumaraswamy stated during a recent review meeting.
The latest guidelines by the Ministry also state that 70 per cent of the subsidy will be released at the procurement stage, with the remaining 30 per cent disbursed after commissioning and integration with the unified charging hub. Government agencies at the central and state levels have been notified to appoint nodal bodies to identify high-priority locations and submit proposals to the Ministry.
The latest E-DRIVE guidelines also state clear technical requirements for different vehicle categories.
Charging stations must meet minimum capacity thresholds: up to 12 kW for two-wheelers and three-wheelers, and between 50 kW and 500 kW for fast chargers serving cars, buses, and trucks. For heavier vehicles like buses and trucks, charging infrastructure must support at least 240 kW.
