So far we have seen CNG points available at some regular petrol pumps in the country, reducing the load on standalone CNG stations to some extent. But now reports suggest the Indian government is proposing the idea of having electric charging points for electric vehicles at petrol pumps as well.
In addition to this, the government is reportedly going to put a framework in place, which will focus on building battery manufacturing and charging infrastructure in the country. All this has been mentioned by sources quoted in a report in The Economic Times this week.
India is looking for a quick switch from fossil fuel-based vehicles to electric, aiming to convert two and three wheelers by 2025 and eventually four wheelers post 2030. And steps like these are expected to help in achieving that target.
Most of the auto industry has been complaining about the lack of charging support directly discouraging their interest in switching vehicles to electric.
There are reportedly 60,000 petrol pumps across the country and more expected to be added, as mentioned in this report. This could deliver a win-win solution for both the parties. This way, the Ministry doesn’t need to acquire more land space to set up the electric vehicle charging stations, and make better use of the available area.
Cities like Bengaluru are slowly moving in this direction, and even in Delhi, we’re seeing government bodies using electric cars with supporting charging points to set an example for the rest of the country.
Making proactive decisions is the best way forward, with many auto companies likely to introduce their EVs in the coming months. Once the infrastructure is set, the government can then evaluate the pricing of the resources which will power these vehicles.
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