MSEDCL Plans To Set Up 500 EV Charging Stations in Maharashtra

For the 4,000 electric vehicles registered across Maharashtra since April 2017, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) plans to set up 50EV charging stations, in the first phase, across key locations in the state very soon. The measure should supplement efforts being made by other firms, both public and private sector to ramp up EV charging stations in the state.

The plan is to set up a total of 500 charging stations at key locations in the state in the next three to four years for those travelling by electric cars, bikes or scooters in the state. While seemingly large, we believe the numbers need to be more ambitious, keeping in mind the growth rate projected for EV’s, as well as the E-rickshaws already plying in the state.

“Both the Centre and the state are encouraging the use of electric vehicles. Therefore, there will be a need to set up charging stations infrastructure. We have planned to set up 500 stations in the next three to four years,” MSEDCL chairman and managing director Sanjeev Kumar said.

Kumar said that the firm has already invited bids and may soon issue letters of intent for the same. “We are hopeful that in the next six months, 50 stations (first phase) will be in place,” added Kumar.

When asked about the cost of setting up the charging stations, Kumar said that one station may incur a cost of around Rs 3-4 lakh.

The land for setting up the stations will be facilitated by MSEDCL and the company will bring the distribution line, according to him.

Kumar informed that for promotion of EVs, state electricity regulator MERC has created a new category for charging stations at HT and LT voltage levels, with effective variable charge of Rs 6 per unit and demand charges of Rs 70 per unit per month. A vehicle would be charged completely in about 45 minutes to one hour at these points, the release said.

It takes around 30 minutes to fast charge lithium-ion batteries while two hours for regular batteries to charge.

“This has made it very easy for us to go ahead with the project,” he added.

The MSEDCL plans to set up these charging points at its free/empty substation spaces.

MSEDCL plans to set up 500 stations across the state in a phased manner by 2020, under the National Mobility Mission. In Mumbai, Tata Power has initiated nine locations for EV charging stations, at Vikhroli, Matunga, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bhandup, Chembur, Malad, Lower Parel, Parel, Borivli and Carnac Bundar.