Push for EV chargers at every petrol station

The Indian government is contemplating plans to install at least one electric vehicle (EV) charging station alongside every petrol pump in the country.

There are an estimated 69,000 petrol pumps across India and having chargers at these sites is seen by officials as a way to encourage people to choose electric mobility over fossil fuels.

The government is considering making it compulsory to install EV charging kiosks at all company-owned, company-operated petrol pumps of state refiners. 

Operators of other franchises would be advised to have at least one such facility at their fuel stations, reports BloombergQuint.

An Oil Ministry source says the guidelines under consideration, which require all new petrol pumps to have an option of one alternative fuel, will deliver “EV charging facility at all petrol pumps in the country”.

“Most of the new petrol pumps are opting for electric vehicle charging facility under the alternative fuel option. But it will make a huge difference when the existing petrol pumps would also install EV charging kiosks,” the source says.

Ministers are also making plans to increase charging options in a number of large cities and on highways to encourage people to switch to zero-emissions transport.