EV Motors and BSES Yamuna to facilitate EV charging network in Delhi

With an aim to provide a fillip to the e-mobility ecosystem in the nation’s capital, EV charging solutions provider – EV Motors India (EVM) – has inked an agreement with BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) that will see the companies work closely to facilitate EV charging facilities across Delhi.

As per the agreement, EVM and BYPL will “jointly create, operate and maintain charging infrastructure” under the former’s PlugNGo brand at select locations in central and east Delhi. All charging stations will be equipped with one or more charging points for catering to multiple EVs and they will also be accessible via a mobile application for online booking of charging slots and making payments digitally.

Commenting on the association, P R Kumar, CEO of BSES Yamuna Power Limited – one of the three power distribution companies in Delhi – said, “Charging infrastructure for EV vehicles is the need of the hour. We are working with strategic partners to facilitate the setting up of charging stations in east and central Delhi to bring in a change in the mobility landscape. This partnership with EV Motors India is a testimonial to these efforts.”

Expressing his thoughts on the significance of creating a holistic e-mobility ecosystem, Arvind Gujral, CEO, EV Charging Infrastructure (PlugNGo), said, “PlugNGo is committed to reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based vehicles by offering energy efficient solutions. This tie-up plays a major role in boosting the charging infrastructure in the capital thereby accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles in the city.”

EV Motors, a start-up that was founded in 2016, opened doors to its maiden EV charging facility at DLF Cybercity in Gurugram just over a year ago.  The company is now aiming at creating 6,500 such outlets across the country in the next five years with an investment of $200 million (around Rs 1,400 crore). 

Overall, the penetration of electrification in the Indian automotive landscape remains at a nascent stage. However, a string of EVs launched in the recent months, including the Hyundai Kona Electric, MG ZS EV, Tata Nexon EV, and Mahindra eKUV100, signal a prospective shift in intent. Home-grown automakers Tata and Mahindra have announced substantial EV plans and many of the other OEMs are also said to have at least one upcoming EV model in their respective portfolios.

From a regulatory perspective as well, EV adoption is getting a major push. The Delhi government, which revealed a dedicated EV policy late last year, is targeting 250 charging or battery swapping stations across the city. Moreover, the Ministry of Power announced a new set of EV charging guidelines in 2019 to provide a boost to the charging infrastructure across the country.