EV charging solutions provider Magenta opened India’s largest public EV charging station in Navi Mumbai. The facility was inaugurated by Subhash Desai, Minister of Industries and Mining, Maharashtra.
- Facility includes 17 AC chargers ranging from 3.5 to 7.5kW
- DC charging station supports 15kW to 50kW charging
- Users can monitor vehicles via Magenta’s ChargeGrid App during overnight charging
Subhash Desai, Minister of Industries and Mining, Maharashtra, said, "Under our draft EV Policy 2021, we aim to bring at least 1,46,000 new battery-operated electric vehicles (BEVs) on state roads by 2025, estimated to comprise about 10 percent of all new vehicle registrations by that time. We support our very own local start-ups like Magenta to drive the adoption of EVs in the state and in the country and soon globally.”
Maharashtra was the latest state to announce an EV policy proposing to offer incentives to early adopters of electric vehicles aside from benefits offered by the Central Government’s FAME II scheme. Other states with EV policies include Gujarat and Delhi.
About the charging station
The charging station, which is operational around the clock, has 21 chargers – four DC chargers (15 to 50 kW capacity) and 17 AC chargers (3.5 to 7.5 kW). The AC chargers have been developed and manufactured in-house in India.
Depending on the usage, a vehicle can be charged in as little as 45 minutes. For vehicles which require AC slow charging, a parking bay allows for overnight charging. These chargers can be operated through Magenta’s ChargeGrid App with online remote monitoring which includes an automated payment gateway.
The setting up of this public EV charging station in Navi Mumbai is in line with the Centre’s plan to set up 4,00,000 charging stations to meet the requirement for two million EVs which could potentially ply on its roads by 2026. According to SMEV statistics, there are 1,800 charging stations in India (March 2021) catering to 16,200 electric cars, including the fleet segment.
EV adoption in India
Electric vehicles are slowly starting to catch on in the Indian market though choices in the four wheeler space are still limited. Major mainstream offerings include the popular Tata Nexon EV, MG ZS EV and the Hyundai Kona electric. Buyers are expected to get more choice in the coming years with Mahindra also lining up two EVs for the market – the all-electric eKUV and the eXUV300.
On the luxury side of the segment, buyers can choose between the Mercedes EQC, Jaguar I-Pace and in the coming weeks Audi’s e-tron and e-tron Sportback.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
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