1. Audi to expand EV charging network in India.

Audi India plans to have 100 EV charging points by the end of 2022.

The company currently sells five electric cars in India: the Audi e-tron 50, e-tron 55, e-tron Sportback 55, e-tron GT & RS e-tron GT.

Whenever a customer purchases an Audi EV, a charging point is installed at the customer’s office or house.

Audi India expects at least 15% of its overall sales in India to come from electric vehicles in the next three years.

The luxury carmaker is also installing chargers at its sister brands dealerships (Volkswagen & Skoda) that are located across strategic highways to help expand the charging network. Audi is also setting up high speed chargers at its dealerships to ensure convenient and super-fast charging.

2. A 100kW Solar-Powered EV Charging Station to be installed at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat.

Tamil Nadu state government is looking to install a 100kW solar-powered EV charging station at the Tamil Nadu secretariat in Chennai. This will be a smart charging station where EVs could be charged without human intervention. This decision was taken after a pilot run of a 25kW charging station was deemed successful. TN govt’s State Planning Commission is setting up this station at a cost of Rs.1 Crore. The station is aimed to promote EV adoption among the 7000 government officials at the TN secretariat. 15 EVs will be able to charge simultaneously once the model station is installed. A CCS2 & a CHAdeMO gun will be installed at the station.

3. Hinduja Group-owned Gulf Oil has plans for EVs.

Lubricants major Gulf Oil is planning to expand its business in industrial fluids and electric vehicle fluids. The company is looking at opportunities in the EV space. Hinduja Group has invested in UK’s Indra Charging Network and there are plans to roll out an EV charging network in India.

Ravi Chawla, MD, Gulf Oil India said, “We are looking at how to play a role in the EV sector. We have EV fluids but it is a small part of the EV market. Our parent company has invested in Indra Charging Network in UK and we are planning to roll it out in India by the end of the year.”

4. IIT Guwahati develops ‘Optimized Control Approach’ for solar-powered EV charging.

Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (Guwahati) have developed an optimised control system for active power distribution networks that can enable coordinated operation of solar power generation and electric vehicle charging.

The Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering (EEE), IIT Guwahati has recently published their research.

Electric vehicles are being increasingly considered as the solution to carbon emissions from the transportation sector. The sustainability of EV can be enhanced if the power used to charge these vehicles is based on renewable energy sources such as solar energy. However, solar energy is intermittent, which leads to voltage fluctuation problems in the power distribution networks.

A coordinated control approach for power distribution system is required in order to derive maximum benefits from renewable power generation and EV charging power sourcing.

Researchers at the premier institute have developed an optimization-based coordinated voltage control approach of power distribution networks to mitigate the over-voltage & under-voltage problems.

The research team has developed a three-stage approach which involves (i) coordination of the volt-VAR devices in two different time scales, (ii) reception of the reactive power set points by the local controller and (iii) EV charge scheduling.

In simpler terms, the trick lies in Solar inverters & EV inverters working in coordination with Voltage Regulating Device.

5. New career opportunity ‘EV Charging Station Technician’.

With the expansion of the EV segment, the government is focusing on developing EV charging infrastructure across the country.

Looking at the future energy and technology needs, Power Sector Skill Council (PSSC), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, has prepared courses related to EV Charging Station Technician.

Job-oriented courses announced by PSSC for the EV sector:

Technician (Installation and Commissioning):
The EV Charging Station Technician (I&C) performs tasks for ensuring smooth installation & commissioning of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station as per standard practices. They conduct site surveys and evaluate various parameters to decide suitability of site for the installation of EV charging stations.

Technician (Operation and Maintenance):
The EV Charging Station Technician (O&M) performs tasks for ensuring smooth operation of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations by providing periodic servicing and maintenance facilities when needed.

The minimum educational qualification is (i) class 12th or (ii) class 10th with ITI in relevant engineering trade. Minimum age is 18 & above.

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