HYDERABAD: Despite the delay in the launch of electric vehicle (EV) policy, the Telangana government will be signing the memorandum of understanding with three electric vehicle manufacturers in a week. The EV policy which was supposed to be launched on June 29 was delayed, as the state is waiting for FAME II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles in India) scheme of the Central government. Through this policy the Central Government has to clear the uncertainty lingering over battery swapping vehicles versus the station charging vehicles.
Three charging stations have come up in Hyderabad in just one month and Power Grid Corporation is in the final stages of setting up a charging station at Miyapur Metro station. Furthermore as part of the national programme, 40 electric buses are being given by the Central Government to TSRTC for which supply has already begun. TSRTC itself has ordered for another 60 electric vehicles.
Experts have pointed out that electric vehicles and related infrastructure is like a chicken and egg problem wherein due to dearth of charging stations people don't want to buy EV and vice versa. Mr. Sri Harsha Bavirisetty of Gayam Motor Works, a Hyderabad based manufacturer of EV said, “Electric vehicles are a two-sided market with charging and battery infrastructure on one side and OEM electric vehicles on another. For people to adapt to electric vehicles, the infrastructure has to be beefed up. It is good for the city to have charging points but there is uncertainty over the battery charging or swapping mechanism.”
Even the fast charging facility needs the vehicles to be at the station for at least 30-40 minutes which is unreasonable. However, the battery swapping mechanism needs a minute to switch. In order to solve this problem, Telangana Government has come up with a draft EV policy giving incentives to companies to set up charging points.
On the other hand Mr. G V.S. Prasad, Executive Director of HPCL said, “Unless it is clear whether it is electric charging or battery swapping, many electric vehicles may not come on road. Moreover the policy makers are pondering over setting up a charging station anywhere or only in retail outlets. Charging points can also be set up in parking lots, colonies and office complexes. We have to see what exactly will come in the policy and based on that development will take place.” However experts say that for the momentum to continue, automobile makers, Government and public have an equal role to play. The Cabinet is expected to consider the second phase of the scheme for approval in a fortnight.
Mr Harsha said, “The target of the Central Government to make all vehicles electric by 2030 is not realistic and is aggressive. They should ideally target public transportation in major cities and metros. It is a long haul for individuals to embrace EV as it is dependent on charging infrastructure at homes or parking lots.” The second phase of the FAME scheme is expected to entail subsidy only for electric buses and setting up of charging infrastructure for all categories of vehicles.
Mr Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Industries said, “We are still waiting for some more clarity from NITI Aayog and Government of India because they are drafting something similar. Before we launch our policy, we want to see what they are announcing and based on those things, that which are left over or additionally needed can be incorporated in our comprehensive policy. In our current draft policy there are certain incentives that we were given that are much more strategic and which people require,” he said.
He said that some of the large players are in talks with the government to bring the cars on roads. “We are signing MoUs in a week or so with three big companies. Two companies are for manufacturing two wheelers and one for manufacturing large body vehicles,” the senior bureaucrat added.
HPCL opens electric vehicle charging facility
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) launched its first charging station in Hyderabad at Raidurgam on Thursday. This is the second charging station that the company launched in the country, while it will be opening two more stations at RC Puram and Uppal in a month. This station is set up at M/S Dinesh Filling station near Raidugram police station on pilot basis in Telangana.
G.V. S. Prasad, executive director of HPCL, said, “The use of electric vehicles has been growing in Hyderabad. The use of EVs are increasing across the country as well. The first EV charging station by HPCL was launched in Nagpur and the second one in Hyderabad. We will be starting four other charging station in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Nodia in a month.”
The charging station at Raidugram is a fast charging facility that will take about 30minutes to charge, while Nagpur one has both fast and slow charging stations that takes 1.5 hours to charge. HPCL is yet to decide on pricing for charging. Indian Oil Corporation Limited has launched two charging facilities at Raj Bhavan Road and Begumpet in July.
