Ministry of Power issues EV charging infrastructure guidelines for 2024

The Ministry of Power has released guidelines for the installation and operation of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across India. The 2024 guidelines apply to public, semi-public, and private charging stations, allowing anyone to set up and operate EV stations as it is now a de-licensed activity. Power utilities are required to provide electricity connections within 3 to 90 days, depending on the location.

Public Charging Stations can be established on public land at subsidized rates, with revenue-sharing models to reduce costs. The target is to have one charging station every 1 km in urban areas and every 20 km along highways by 2030. Stations will follow a single-part tariff system with reduced rates during solar hours (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM), and service charges will vary depending on the type of charging (AC or DC) and the time of day.

Public stations must offer fast-charging options for long-range EVs and heavy-duty vehicles, particularly along highways, with e-bus depots required to install equipment with a minimum capacity of 240 kW. To optimize power use, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technologies will allow EVs to return unused energy to the grid. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) will serve as the central nodal agency, while each state will appoint a State Nodal Agency to oversee the rollout.

Public landowners will enter into revenue-sharing agreements with charge point operators, receiving Rs 1 per kWh of electricity sold, while BEE will maintain a nationwide database of charging stations through an API system.