News, 16 May 2025
The Government of India is planning to install 360-kilowatt (kW) electric vehicle chargers on highways, expressways and bus terminals. This initiative is designed to reduce the charging duration for both heavy-duty electric vehicles, potentially achieving a full charge in 15 minutes.
The Ministry of Heavy Industries is primarily responsible for implementing the scheme to deploy 360 kW EV charging networks on highways under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-Drive) scheme. This scheme aims to establish a robust public charging ecosystem across the country.
Government is encouraging public-private partnerships for setting up and operating EV charging infrastructure. Private entities, including charge point operators (CPOs) and e-mobility service providers, will play a crucial role in designing, installing, and maintaining these charging stations.
The implementation is likely to occur in phases, and the selection of charge point operators would follow a tendering process. Oil marketing companies (IOCL, BPCL, HPCL), power companies (like Tata Power), and dedicated EV charging service providers (like Charge+Zone) are actively involved in setting up charging infrastructure; and they may play a role in setting up these charging stations.
