EV charging stations on U.P. e-ways: Ball set rolling as tender to set up charge-points released
UPEIDA has initiated the process of installing charging stations which will be developed on the PPP model and applications have been invited from interested companies
The Yogi Adityanath government has started the process for installation of charging stations with a ‘battery swapping’ system for e-vehicles on the state’s expressways. These include the Yamuna Expressway, Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway and Gorakhpur Link Expressway.
According to the plan, the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) has initiated the process of installing charging stations which will be developed on the PPP model and applications have been invited from interested companies for the development of these stations through e-tender portal.
Along with this, necessary guidelines have also been issued for charge point operators. Selected applicants for the development of charging stations will be provided land by UPEIDA on a nominal lease for 10 years, a press release read. Additionally, UPEIDA will offer 100% financial support for the development of the ‘Behind the Meter Power Structure.’
UPPCL role important
UPEIDA submitted the tender for public charging stations on October 20. According to this, interested applicants can submit their applications from November 11 to November 28, after which the tender will open on November 29. The tender fee for this is set at ₹5,900, and the EMD amount is ₹5 lakh, the release read.
Charge point operators will be selected to develop public charging stations through this process. UPEIDA will offer 100% financial support for the development of the ‘Behind the Meter Power Structure’ and UPPCL will play a significant role in this.
U.P. govt’s EV vision
The state government plans to set up 2,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to promote electric vehicles in the state. These include establishing 1,300 EV charging stations in municipal cities such as Agra, Lucknow, and Prayagraj, and 100 in heritage sites at Ayodhya and Agra and around 200 at tourist destinations like Mathura-Vrindavan and Varanasi-Ayodhya and another 400 in national and state parks across the state.
Efforts are being made to establish public EV charging stations in cities every three kilometers, on highways every 25 kilometers, and on roads used by heavy-duty vehicles every 100 kilometers to support the operation of these EVs.
In 2022, UP implemented a new Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy that aimed to provide extensive support and incentives for EVs, including subsidies and other provisions.