Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure is rapidly expanding in India. In a bid to pace up its journey towards carbon neutrality, the field is open for private players to participate & take charge of the massive effort required to accelerate the adoption of EVs.

The Ministry of Power revised norms to further support the creation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the country. Two important points in these revised guidelines were: removal of licensing barriers for setting up EV charging stations & allowing private entities to procure government land for setting up and operating charging stations on a revenue-sharing basis.

If an individual or a private entity wants to set up an electric vehicle charging station, the person must choose the right charging solution, supplier, and location. Also, such stations must meet the technical, safety as well as performance standards and protocols laid down by the Ministry of Power.

There are various types of EV chargers out there. These are mainly categorized based on the levels of charging: Level 1, 2 & 3. More on these below:

• AC chargers (level 1) are slow chargers that take almost 6-8 hours to charge an EV to full capacity. Level 1 EV Chargers use a 120V AC plug which can be plugged into a standard wall outlet. These are often used at home. Level 1 Electric Chargers are the cheapest amongst all the available charging stations, but they also consume the largest amount of time to charge your car’s battery. Bharat EV specifications recommend the installation of an RCCB & using an IEC 60309 connector.
• Level 2 Electric Vehicle Chargers are used in both commercial & residential charging stations. They are perfect for both: businesses that plan to offer fast charging options to customers & homeowners who require speedy charging for their EVs.
• Level 3 Electric Vehicle Chargers, also known as DC Fast Chargers have CCS or CHAdeMO connectors. DC fast chargers are usually used only in the industry & commercial applications. 

If you are planning to set up your own EV charging station, you just have to follow the minimum infrastructure requirements, find the right vendor & the right location.

The cost of setting up an EV charging station in India varies from Rs 1 Lakh to Rs 40 Lakhs depending on the type of charger you want to install at the station.

At-a-glance view of the same is shown below:

• Electricity connection cost (250 KVA): 7,50,000
• Civil works: 2,50,000
• CMS software integration cost: 40,000
• Manpower & maintenance cost: 3,50,000 per annum.
• Advertising expenses: 50,000
• If the land is on lease: 6,00,000 per annum.
• Total: Rs 40,00,000.

(Above are approximate estimates and figures might vary from state-to state.)

For public charging stations, the Department of Heavy Industries has approved Bharat Charger specifications: Bharat EV Charger AC001 (for AC charging) & Bharat EV Charger DC001 (for DC charging).

• The AC001 delivers a 15A charging current at 3.3 kW to three vehicles simultaneously. The total cost of this charger and its ancillary equipment falls between Rs 40-55 thousand.
• The DC001 delivers a 200A charging current at 15 kW power, directly to the vehicle’s battery. This charger uses the OCPP protocol for EVSE-CMS communication. The total cost of this charger and its ancillary equipment varies between Rs 2-3 lakh.

Premium e-cars with a battery capacity of 30 kWh and upwards have to be fast-charged using high voltage charging tech. The government is pushing Bharat Standard, CHAdeMO & CCS charging points at all public stations for the same.

Kazam EV Charging Solutions:

Kazam EV Tech provides complete solutions for EV charging at home, residential societies, offices, malls, restaurants, shops & petrol pumps. By means of our products: Kazam 3.3 & Kazam Mini, you can set up your own charging station/point.

Delhi-specific details:

For residents of Delhi, you can buy an EV charging station by signing up at the website of BSES Rajdhani, BSES Yamuna, or Tata Power DDL (depending upon your locality).

For more details, visit: Subsidy for EV Charging Stations in Delhi: BSES Yamuna, BSES Rajdhani, Tata Power - What, When, Who, How, and More

Conclusion:

While EVs are undoubtedly the future, it would take some time for your Return on Investments to turn green. Offer advertisement space, refreshments, etc, and you’re likely to break even and subsequently earn a profit much quicker.

The cost of running, which includes paying salaries of personnel, maintaining the equipment, rent, etc might seem daunting at first, but a long-term vision along with the capacity to invest should keep you positive until it becomes a profitable venture.