Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Delhi to Get More EV Charging, Battery Swapping Stations as Cab Aggregators Increase E-Bikes

Share

The NDMC is planning to increase the number of EV charging stations in Lutyens’ Delhi and even provide battery swapping facilities at some of these points, a senior official said on Wednesday.

With Delhi being among the most polluted capitals in the world, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has been making a push for electric vehicles to nudge residents to opt for cleaner vehicle options.

There are around 100 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the national capital at present and this would be the first time that some of them would have battery swapping facilities, which is quite prominent in Western countries, he said.

The official said the aim is to provide easy accessibility to charging stations and to save time by providing swapping facilities.

This will give a major push to EVs in the city. Various PSUs, including the Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited (REIL) and the Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KELTRON), have approached the NDMC for setting up public charging stations, the official said.

NDMC Vice Chairman Satish Upadhyay said the demand for electric vehicles is expected to rise with increasing prices of petrol and diesel.

“Moreover, there is an urgent need to give a push to EVs to provide the city more green alternatives. Also, several app-based aggregators are moving to e-bikes. Once there is a web of such stations, people will not worry about the issue of charging and then there will be more such vehicles,” said Upadhyay.

“The plan to add more EV charging stations is under process, but we are also planning to install battery swapping facilities at some of the prominent stations,” Upadhyay added.

Battery swapping is an alternative that involves exchanging discharged batteries for charged ones. Battery swapping de-links the vehicle and fuel (in this case, the battery) and thereby leads to a reduction in the upfront cost of the vehicles.

Upadhyay said a policy will be prepared for the location of charging stations, and their total number and mode of allotment.

“We cannot install charging stations everywhere. We need to prioritise places where there are a lot of people travelling. The total number of charging stations is yet to be decided and the mode of allotment to such operators be decided in a time-bound manner,” the vice chairman said.

“We have been approached by three PSUs. We will sign MoUs with them for setting up of Public Charging related Infrastructure,” the vice chairman said.

The proposal in this regard was part of the agenda of Thursday’s council meeting but could not be taken for discussion because of the ruckus.

“This will be presented in the next house. Following the approval, we will ask the PSUs to survey and put forward their plans. We will then analyse them and select the best plan to take the matter forward,” Upadhyay added. 


Xiaomi launched its camera focussed flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra smartphone, while Apple opened it’s first stores in India this week. We discuss these developments, as well as other reports on smartphone-related rumours and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.