New Delhi — In a decisive push towards sustainable mobility, the Indian government has announced a significant boost to the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem by allocating ₹2,839 crore for the expansion of public EV charging stations (EVPCS) across the country.
Under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India (FAME-II) scheme, ₹839 crore has been earmarked for the establishment of EV charging infrastructure. Complementing this, an additional ₹2,000 crore has been sanctioned under the newly introduced PM E-DRIVE scheme, with a focus on nationwide coverage, including both urban and rural areas.
To streamline the expansion, the Ministry of Power released updated “Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure-2024” on September 17, 2024. These guidelines emphasize the importance of public-private partnerships (PPP) and designate EV charging station development as a de-licensed activity, effectively reducing bureaucratic red tape and enabling faster implementation by private entities.
The government is also actively supporting Research and Development (R&D) to enhance EV technology and infrastructure. Key highlights include:
- R&D and product design expenditures are now counted as Eligible Investment under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) scheme.
- Through the Capital Goods Scheme of the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), up to 80% of the cost of R&D projects — especially those related to EVs — is funded, with the remaining 20% contributed by industry partners. These projects are being executed in premier institutions such as IITs and IISc.
This comprehensive initiative was revealed by Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, during a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. The combined efforts under FAME-II, PM E-DRIVE, and robust R&D support mark a significant step toward India’s goal of electrifying its transport sector and achieving net-zero emissions in the coming decades.
With simplified regulations and a strong financial push, India is gearing up for an electric future — one charging station at a time.
