Before driving in its first electric SUV, the MG eZS later this year, MG is partnering with Finnish clean energy giant Fortum to set up 50 KW DC fast-charging EV stations in Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad by September this year. These charging stations will be first set up at the company’s dealers.
Other companies such as Ather, which makes electric scooters, are also setting up electric vehicle fast-charging stations. The stations being set up by Ather are compatible with different types of electric vehicles. The company is planning to make it available in malls, cafes, gyms, and other public places, first in Bengaluru and Chennai, before expanding further.
Another company that is looking to foray into the electric vehicles segment in a big way is Revolt, with its recent unveiling of the RV 400 electric motorcycle.
The company is looking for collaborators to host its charging stations which users can locate and use after registering on their app or even swap their batteries. Revolt has said that it will pay for the energy consumed by the charging stations to make it more cost effective for the hosts looking to set up the charging stations.
On the other hand, electric vehicles are still at a very nascent stage. Mahindra is trying to get more electric vehicles on the road, with its recent partnership with Uber in Hyderabad for electric cab services. However, it has not announced plans of setting up public EV charging stations.
Kerala got its first electric charging station in Kochi at the Indian Oil Retail Outlet as reported by Times of India.
With the electric vehicles being mandated by the Indian government, the immediate need is to first set up a viable charging network on Indian roads.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)