Tata Motors Limited (TML), a global automobile manufacturer, and Tata Power have joined forces to set up around 300 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations by the end of FY 2020. The two companies launched seven charging stations in Pune, Maharashtra. The other fast-charging stations are planned to be installed in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. In the next two months, 45 charging stations are slated to be installed in the four cities apart from Pune.
The EV chargers are located at Tata Motors dealerships, some Tata Group retail outlets and other public places. “We are happy to partner with Tata Power for taking the first step in developing a ubiquitous EV charging infrastructure in India. This partnership is an important milestone in our journey to offer complete ecosystem solutions and offer peace of mind to our customers. We remain committed to the sustainable mobility mission and will continue to work towards bringing aspirational e-mobility solutions for the customers, leading the drive towards faster adoption of electric vehicles in the country,” said Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD of Tata Motors.
Tata Motors electric vehicle customers would be receiving free vehicle charging for three months. Tata Power will run the charging stations that will follow the Bharat standard (15 kW) for the first fifty chargers. After 50, the charging stations will follow 30 to 50 kW DC CCS (combined charging system) 2 standard. CCS is one of many contending standards for charging plugs and vehicle communication.
Tata Power installed Mumbai’s first EV charging station in Vikhroli, followed by additional charging stations earlier this year. Recently, Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL), one of India’s leading gas distribution companies signed an MoU with Tata Power. Through this agreement, both the companies will explore possibilities of co-operation. Among other things, their cooperation would also focus on solar rooftop initiatives and setting up of commercial-scale charging and battery swapping stations for electric vehicles, with the allied power management solutions.
Last year, Tata Power and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), an Indian state-owned oil and natural gas company, signed an agreement for setting up commercial-scale EV charging stations at the HPCL retail outlets and other locations across India. Earlier, Vakrangee Limited, a technology-oriented company, announced plans of establishing charging infrastructure units for EVs across India.
