850 EV charge stations to dot West Bengal's highway network by 2024: Power secretary

By the end of 2024, Bengal would have over 850 EV charging stations along state and federal highways, according to S Suresh Kumar, the state's secretary of energy, allaying concerns among drivers that they would be stranded without electricity in the midst of a desolate and dark roadway.

Before the 16th EV Expo, 2022, scheduled to take place from December 9 to 11 at Biswa Bangla, Kumar stated, We will set up 849 EV charging stations along the highway network of the state, with one station being planned every 25km on four-lane highways and one within a 3 sqkm area. This will eliminate people's anxiety about batteries running out of charge and will ensure drive growth in EVs.

By putting in several transformers, we can stabilize the grid and build the charging infrastructure.

The nodal organization for EV charging infrastructure, norms, and standards is West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL), and we are already implementing that, said Kumar.

EVs have significantly lower maintenance costs than diesel cars, according to Kumar, who encouraged the use of the environmentally friendly mode of transportation. He also noted that Section 80EEB allowed an individual consumer to deduct Rs 1.5 lakh for interest paid on loan for EV purchase. EV batteries convert 59% to 62% of energy into vehicle movement, whereas the figure for gasoline was 17% to 21%, he added.

We are now erecting several transformers to stabilize the grid, which is necessary for the development of the charging infrastructure, Kumar continued. The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) is the focal point for standards, norms, and the infrastructure for EV charging.

KMC has designated space in the city for the installation of EV charging stations in parking lots. We are working in conjunction with the electricity and transport agencies to establish EV charging infrastructure around the city, according to Somnath Dey, special commissioner, KMC. The objective is to charge automobile or two-wheeler batteries while being parked, he said.

The three-day EV exhibition will include products from over 100 exhibitors, including the newest and most technologically sophisticated Two-wheel, Three-wheel, and Four-wheel electric cars, components, and accessories, charging solutions, and technology. The state government's E-Mobility Week, which runs through Sunday, will be in conjunction with this event, according to EV Expo organizer Rajiv Arora.

On Saturday, the government will host an electric car rally in conjunction with the EV Expo. The cars will leave the Biswa Bangla Mela venue and go through the city, via Park Street, Queens Road, and Prinsep Ghat, before doing a U-turn and heading back to the fairground. According to an official, the objective was to increase public knowledge of electric vehicles, dispel any misconceptions about their range, and encourage consumers to acquire and utilize electric vehicles.

Additionally, the rally's organizers hope to set records in two categories for the Limca Book of Records. Anuj Sharma, president of the Electric Vehicle Federation, stated that one would be for the most number of electrical cars operating simultaneously in India, and the other would be for the greatest number of individuals travelling simultaneously by electric vehicles in India.

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