More EV Charging Stations, Hydrogen to Generate Electricity: Maharashtra Government

The Maharashtra Government has promised a strong support for the hydrogen and electric vehicles’ charging infrastructure at the “Alternative Fuel Conclave” organised at Pune. While Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that his government is planning to incentivize an ecosystem that helps the growth of electric vehicles and vehicles that run on alternate fuels, Energy Minister Nitin Raut declared that hydrogen will be employed in Maharashtra as an alternative fuel to generate power.

Nitin Raut said, “We are shifting our focus of generation of electricity from conventional fuel to hydrogen energy. Very soon, our State will be featured as a pioneer in the use of hydrogen energy.”

It was announced that the state government will amend the Renewable Energy Policy 2020 under which the 17360 MW of renewable energy is to realised. The policy has been relatively ineffective until now. The minister says that Maharashtra Government plans to better incentivize stakeholders here onwards.

Nitin Raut stated that the Energy Department plans to expand electric vehicles’ charging infrastructure in the state. He said, “In order to facilitate the increased use of green energy in the transport sector, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) is proactively taking the initiative to establish the EV charging stations. Even as a part of asset monetization, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company, Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company and Maharashtra State Power Generation Company have decided to form JV with Petrol companies to set up EV charging stations on the premises of petrol pumps.”

Nitin Raut also informed that if this model is successful, the next step would be to increase the number of charging stations in the schools and colleges’ premises, so that students would have easy access to charging.

“While taking initiatives, care has been taken to keep the electricity charges quite reasonable i.e. Rs 5.50 per unit in daytime use. However, during the night from 10 pm to 6 am the rate will be Rs 4.50 per unit. This shows our sincere commitment to reducing the carbon footprints,” said the Energy Minister.

MSEDCL is the nodal agency for the development of EV charging infrastructure in Maharashtra by encouraging the private sector. Maharashtra is leading the electric vehicles sales in India. In the first nine months alone of 2021-22, EV sales increased by more than 150 per cent.

As Maharashtra targets to have 10 per cent of all new registrations in the state from electric vehicles, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also requested the industry leaders to invest in manufacturing units of alternate fuels.