NHEV adds Its Inputs on Proposed Battery Swapping Policy to NITI Aayog

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The working group of tech-piloting agency ‘Ease of Doing Business’ of National Highway for Electric Vehicle (NHEV) has met with NITI Ayog to discuss the details of the ‘Battery Swapping’ policy. The new scheme was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget on February 1 to enhance the electric vehicle adoption in India. It has been learnt that the crucial meeting was organised by the working group and they had met Sudhendu Sinha who is advisor for Infrastructure, Connectivity – Transport and Electric Mobility in the national think tank. The NHEV was recently involved with the start of the largest EV charging station in the country, on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, an attempt to create a template for more such stations on that stretch, and highways across the country.

The group held that there is a need for a pilot prototype and also the National Highway for Electric Vehicle (NHEV) has proposed deployment of prototype charging stations in different parts of the Delhi-NCR region. The Gurugram one that we have mentioned on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, can charge 100 electric vehicles at a time. The group wants these stations to be equipped with with EV swappable battery technology too.

Abhijeet Sinha, National Program Director, Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) program and Project Director of National Highway for Electric Vehicle said, “The battery swapping units shall get deployed in one existing and three upcoming prototype charging stations with two in Noida and another two in Gurugram, where initially it would be used by electric vehicles to unload large trucks and sending all light and heavy goods and parcels inside the city via EV loader and small electric tempo using swappable batteries. This shall significantly reduce numbers of large diesel vehicles entering the city and adding smoke to its air.”

Sudhendu Sinha, NITI Ayog, said that the Ease of Doing Business in the electric vehicle sector is inalienable. “More such technical interventions to make, model charging stations, model EV districts and model swapping points are needed to simplify the installation process, smooth financing and business-models,” he mentioned.

NHEV’s EV charging centre in Gurugram is fitted with 75 AC and 25 DC chargers and this will be operational by March. The working group also discussed about 30 NHEV charging stations on Jaipur – Delhi –Agra E-highway that will have 20 two-wheelers and 20 three-wheelers EV with swapping units. These are expected to be availed by the customers through mobile app subscription-like Yulu. The tourists in the cultural cities of Matura, Vrindavan, Agra, and Jaipur can use the EV two-wheelers to roam the streets and return after use.

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The deliberations brought out that compliance with the existing standards by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) should continue. The facilities should also be open for technical inspection for various ‘Certification Compliance’ and ‘Safety Standards.’ The next meeting between the working group and NITI Ayog is scheduled for February 25 and standards and role of ‘Battery Swapping Policy’ for NHEV is expected to be discussed.

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