Electric cars and scooters can now be charged at homes with priority access to electricity from power utilities, reports Mint. According to the report, new guidelines were issued by Anoop Singh Bisht, under secretary in the power ministry, to all Union ministries and departments and the chief secretaries of states and Union territories.
The power ministry early this year issued a notification clarifying that setting up charging stations for electric vehicles will not require a separate licence under the Electricity Act of 2003.
The government has asked public charging stations to install both Japanese and Chinese charging technologies for electric vehicles since they have been unable to select one. This will likely raise costs of charging stations. Also, the guidelines require one charging station to be set up every three km in cities and every 25 km on both sides of highways. The tariff for supply of electricity to electric vehicle public charging station shall not be more than the average cost of supply plus 15%.
India has been trying to work out a standard charging format amid strong lobbies on each end. Lack of clarity on charging protocol, delayed the process of demand for electric vehicles in the market.
