Oil Marketing Companies Providing EV Charging Facility At Over 1,500 Retail Outlets: Govt

The government has informed the Parliament that the oil marketing companies (OMCs) had set up Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations at over 1,500 retail outlets (ROs) across the country till 1 January this year.

"Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have been setting up Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) at their Retail Outlets (ROs) in different parts of the country in phased manner based on techno commercial feasibility and compliance of Petroleum & Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) norms," Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameswar Teli said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Thursday (31 March).

"As of 1 January 2022, Oil Marketing Companies have informed that EV charging facility have been provided at 1536 ROs," he added.

Additionally, Ministry of Power has informed that currently 1742 number of public EV charging stations are functional in the country, the minister said.

"Under FAME-II scheme, 4,453 number of public EV charging stations have also been sanctioned," he added.

On the question of steps taken by the government to promote battery swapping technologies, the minister said that the “Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles- the revised consolidated Guidelines and Standards” issued by the Ministry of Power on 14 January 2022 defines Battery Swapping station as a means to replace partially or fully discharged EV batteries with fully charged ones.

He added that as on 1 January 2022, 42 Battery Swapping Stations have been provided at Retail Outlets of Public Sector OMCs.