EV charging stations asked to install both Japanese and Chinese technologies
Economic Times reported that unable to decide between Japanese and Chinese charging technologies for electric vehicles, the government has asked public charging stations to install both platforms, ending months of ambiguity that delayed electric vehicles procurement by Energy Efficiency Services Ltd. Expert said that the move, however, is likely to substantially raise costs of charging stations. The plugs and communication protocols to link batteries to chargers need to be limited to keep costs down.
India has been trying to work out a standard charging format amid strong lobbies on each end. Lack of clarity on charging protocol has to an extent derailed the electric vehicles program that planned to aggregate demand and purchase about 20,000 cars over the next couple of years.
EESL, which is tasked with the procurement of electric cars for use by government departments across the country, withdrew its tender for purchasing 10,000 electric sedans earlier this year. The revised standards are expected to allow foreign automakers to come into the Indian market.
Mr Saurabh Kumar, managing director at EESL said that “If the guidelines open up all types of charging specifications, I think that is really the way to go. This will really encourage manufacturers to come with higher range cars because obviously, nobody is going to bring cars which are already present in India.”
The tender which by EESL called back had a provision for 20% of the 10,000 cars to be in the luxury cars category. With only Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra manufacturing basic electric sedans in the country, this would have allowed foreign automakers like Nissan, Kia Motors to participate in the tender.
Current international standards used by most vehicle manufacturers internationally are CCS and CHAde-MO. Hence public charging stations shall have, one or more electric kiosks/boards with installation of all the charger models, said the guidelines issued by the power ministry on Friday.
Source : Economic Times