Indian Government Setting Up EV Charging Stations At Petrol Pumps

New Delhi’s government is carrying out a plan to develop the infrastructure to manufacture and charge huge batteries for electric vehicles (EV) across the country.

In 2018, New Delhi was ranked the world’s most polluted capital city. The main force contributing to this city’s toxic air is vehicle emissions. Understanding the gravity of the situation, the government is on the road to ameliorate this issue.

According to The Times Of India, in an attempt to reduce the exhaustion from electric vehicles (EV), the government is currently seeking for ideal locations to set up charging stations and battery manufacturing facilities in India. A senior official said, as stated in the report:

Earlier this year, the National Institution for Transforming India or NITI Aayog proposed a draft concerning the cell and battery production at large scale in the country. Accordingly, there was an announcement that from April 2023 and April 2025 onwards, only the sales of electric three-wheelers and two-wheelers are allowed respectively. This mega plan is for the purpose of fighting pollution.

This, in addition, also turns India into a center manufacturing electric vehicles worldwide. Until now, companies run by the Indian government have operated about 60,000 petrol stations. The country is reportedly planning to add the equivalent number of stations. Not only that, various private firms have also operated gas stations all over the country.

Besides the direction on EVs, NITY Aayog has also put forth a proposal concerning battery and cell manufacturing facilities at large scale in India. This Cabinet proposal suggested various sops including a matrix of customs duties which aims to boost domestic production and income tax incentives to encourage investment activities.