India Expands EV Charging Network with Major Funding Boost
To streamline infrastructure development, the Ministry of Power issued the "Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure-2024" on 17th September 2024. These guidelines promote public-private partnerships, designate EV charging station setup as a de-licensed activity, and simplify business processes to encourage private sector participation.
The government is also fostering Research & Development (R&D) in EV technology through various initiatives:
PLI ACC Scheme: Engineering R&D and product design & development expenditures are considered as part of eligible investments.
Capital Goods Scheme (MHI): Up to 80% of R&D project costs, including EV-related research at institutions like IITs and IISc, are funded by the government, with the remaining 20% covered by industry partners.
This information was provided by Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. With continued policy support and investment, India is advancing towards a comprehensive and accessible EV charging ecosystem.