EVolution!

The National Capital at present has more than 70 EV charging stations, but how many are operational? Pratik Rakshit visits a few of these stations for answers

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Due to the rising pollution and the increasing provision of financial incentives by the government, the sale of electric vehicles is booming in India. Out of 1.56 lakh electric vehicles sold in FY20, 1.52 lakh were two-wheelers, 3,400 cars and 600 were buses. The growing sale of electric 2-wheelers is driven by the availability of a wide array of models in the country, their affordable prices, and their ability to serve as excellent alternatives to the traditional fossil fuel-powered mopeds. Similar is the case with electric 3-wheelers. However, the electric 4-wheeler segment is still growing with a handful of options available but the fact that there’s at least one option for every Rs 10 lakh, as well as the increasing year-on-year sale only resonates to the increasing faith in these products. The point that I am trying to make here is very obvious. EVs are the in-thing today. Yet, many believe they are expensive and a maintenance nightmare, but in the longer scheme of things, is an investment that benefits you from the first month of ownership. It has less moving parts than your conventional car, so trips to the mechanics will be fewer, and fuel stops will be a thing of the past. A customary checkup of an EV takes less than an hour, and to curb range-anxiety, newer cars offer fast charging which juices up the battery within a few minutes. But for the industry to survive, the charging infrastructure requires special attention, planning, and strategy. While manufacturers provide home chargers, chances are you will rely more on public charging stations in your city than the one installed at the residence.