A new Revised PM E-DRIVE scheme announced: The Revised New plan to subsidise charging stations for 2 and 3-wheelers- to be implemented effective Dec ,2024

The Centre has overhauled its plan to deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging stations by including subsidies for setting up two- and three-wheeler chargers. This is a significant development since earlier iterations of the EV subsidy scheme, called Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME), did not support deployment of two- or three-wheeler charging stations.

The government introduces subsidies for two- and three-wheeler EV chargers in a ₹10,900 crore plan under the PM E-DRIVE scheme. The initiative supports 72,300 public charging stations, prioritizes daytime solar charging, and mandates 50% domestic value addition in chargers from December 2024.

Up to 80% of back-end infrastructure development costs will be subsidised under the newly launched ₹10,900 crore PM E-DRIVE scheme. Besides, NHAI -National Highways Authority of India, Indian railway , Oil marketing companies and state governments will also be engaged in this scheme.

The guidelines propose that government or public entities offer land at subsidized rates to private operators in exchange for a share of the revenue over a 10-year period,

Increasing EV adoption is going to drive the electric Power requirement. In order to encourage usage of Solar energy for EV charging and with an aim to lower the EV charging rates, the charging rates have been slashed.
The new rates for fast charging have been lowered from the previous range of Rs18 to Rs 24 per unit to Rs11.00 per unit during solar hours and Rs 13.00 per unit during non-solar hours.

For slow charging—the rates are set at Rs 3.00 per unit for solar-based charging and Rs 4.00 per unit for non-solar charging

Distribution Licensees will charge 0.7 times the Average Cost of Supply (ACoS) during solar hours (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM) and 1.3 times ACoS during non-solar hours.

Aim is to quickly establish at least one public charging station must be established within a 1 km x 1 km grid in urban areas. Along highways, charging stations are to be located every 20 km for regular EVs and every 100 km for long-range and heavy-duty vehicles, such as buses and trucks. All OMC’s have been asked to implement this within set timelines.

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