NHEV Working Group Meet NITI Aayog; Discuss New Battery Swapping Policy

In a meeting organised by the working group of tech-piloting agency ‘Ease of Doing Business', met with NITI Aayog's Sudhendu J Sinha (Advisor for Infrastructure, Connectivity – Transport and Electric Mobility), to discuss details of the recently announced ‘Battery Swapping' policy at the Union Budget 2022. Urging the need for a pilot prototype, NHEV proposed deployment of prototype charging stations, like the one recently opened in Gurugram, with 100 chargers, in different parts of the Delhi-NCR region, with EV swappable battery technology.

Abhijeet Sinha, National Program Director, Ease of Doing Business program and Project Director of National Highway for Electric Vehicle said, “The battery swapping units shall get deployed in one existing and three upcoming prototype charging stations with two in Noida and another two in Gurugram, where initially it would be used by electric vehicles to unload large trucks and sending all light and heavy goods and parcels inside the city via EV loader and small electric tempo using swappable batteries. This shall significantly reduce numbers of large diesel vehicles entering the city and adding smoke to its air.”

Also Read: Union Budget 2022: EV Firms Welcome Battery Swapping Policy Announcement

NHEV recently opened India's largest charging station in Gurugram, with 75 AC + 25 DC chargers lined up to open by March 2022. It was also discussed here, that all 30 NHEV charging stations on Jaipur – Delhi –Agra E-highway will have 20 two-wheelers and 20 three-wheelers EV with swapping units, open for use with a mobile app subscription-like Yulu. Additionally, tourists can use these two-wheelers for roaming the streets of Matura, Vrindavan, Agra, and Jaipur, and return these bikes while returning.

Sudhendu J. Sinha, Adviser (Infrastructure, Connectivity – Transport and Electric Mobility), NITI Aayog said, “More such technical interventions to make, model charging stations, model EV districts and model swapping points are needed to simplify the installation process, smooth financing and business-models to actual deliver Ease of Doing Business in the sector.”

Also Read: Union Budget 2022: Auto Industry Welcomes Government's Initiatives

It was also noted at the meeting that the swapping facility shall comply with existing standards made available from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and shall be open for technical inspection for various ‘Certification Compliance' and ‘Safety Standards' led by the Power Ministry or any other regulatory body. This shall contribute ground realities, technical constraints, and economic viabilities in the policy as a use case and will upgrade itself to any new regulation introduced in the policy. In the next meeting scheduled for February 25, 2022, the NHEV working group will discuss details on standards and role it will play in ‘Battery Swapping Policy' from National Highway for Electric Vehicle pilot perspective.