Delhi-Chandigarh Highway To Get A Network Of Solar Powered EV Charging Stations For A Zero-Pollution Travel

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is set to increase in India with the continuous efforts of the government as well as the private players. In a recent development on this, the entire Delhi-Chandigarh highway, stretching over 250 kms, is now poised to get a network of EV charging stations.

What¡¯s more, these charging stations will be no burden on the grid, as these will be powered by solar energy. This also means that the EVs operating through these charging stations will practically have zero carbon emissions, as explained in an article earlier.

For this, each of the solar electric vehicle charging (SEVC) station will be equipped with a rooftop solar power plant that will in turn provide electrical supply to the fast and slow chargers at the location alike.

Reuters

Also read: Delhi-NCR Gets Its First Electric Vehicle Taxi Service That Kicks Off With A 70 Car Fleet

The initiative has been undertaken by state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), which will also design, engineering, manufacture, supply and install the EV charging stations along with a central monitoring system.

The project falls under the FAME [Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India] scheme of the Department of Heavy Industry (DM). The ultimate aim is to meet the transportation needs of the country with at least 30 per cent of the vehicles being electric by 2030.

The initiative will help tackle the rising vehicular pollution in India and even reduce the country¡¯s dependence on fossil fuel imports. As for the consumers, the charging fee, if any, is expected to be far less than the expenditure on the petrol or diesel.

Sun tracking solar charger in California (Representative Image: Reuters)

Also read: NYC Is Using Solar Panels To Charge Electric Cars And Here Is Why It Is A Golden Idea For India

There are several other looming questions about the claims, including whether the commuters will have to pay for the charging at the stations or not. BHEL has also not specified any timeline for this or the exact number of charging stations, which will be set up. As to who will operate these stations has also not been made clear at the moment.

(With inputs from PTI)