Centre to revise EV charging costs in PM E-drive scheme

Cost reset may reshape ₹2,000 crore subsidy for EV chargers, boost charging infra rollout

- Manas Pimpalkhare

The Centre has started inter-ministerial consultations to revise the cost of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure under the PM E-drive scheme, the first such revision in nearly three years, two people aware of the matter said. "The last such revision was done in 2022 by the Union power ministry. Since then, there have been significant technology developments, and the cost structure of large and small chargers has changed now," said one of the persons cited above, on the condition of anonymity.

Power and heavy industries ministries, along with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) are part of these consultations that will help shape India's green mobility roadmap.

Currently, the benchmark costs for each charging station for electric two-and three-wheelers, cars, and buses and trucks are ₹1.5 lakh, ₹6 lakh, and ₹24 lakh respectively, as per the draft guidelines for EV public charging stations under the PM e-drive scheme.

The government has earmarked about ₹2,000 crore-nearly a fifth of the ₹10,900-crore PM E-drive scheme's outlay-to subsidise EV charging infrastructure, covering up to 80% of the upstream costs.