The narrative around electric vehicles (EVs) in India is slowly changing. Once believed to be futuristic and expensive, EVs now seems to have gained acceptance owing especially to the soaring prices of fuel. In addition to bringing down the fuel costs, EVs are said to help lower the environmental damage due to noise and pollutants from fuel emissions. However, one limitation that poses for an EV is the charging infrastructure. Presently, there are a limited number of charging stations available. Installation of a home charger is one service that is available, but your car or bike’s battery may not last you till you return home. Hence, it is essential to know about the public EV charging in the country.
Just like standard fuel-operated vehicles, or vehicles that operate using internal combustion engines (ICE), electric vehicles also require a car/bike insurance policy. It forms the mandatory list of vehicle documents alongside registration certificate. Depending on the type of policy, the car/bike insurance price varies.
While EV technology is still developing, a key requirement in mass adoption for EVs is the public charging stations across the nation. This facility will further accelerate the adoption rate of EVs by the masses. According to a press release by the Ministry of Power, India has 1640 public EV chargers at present.[1] Of these total public chargers, 940 of them are located in 9 cities viz., Surat, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai.
To ensure the pace of public infrastructure for EVs grows faster, the Government is making comprehensive efforts by involving the public, as well as private agencies such as BEE, EESL, PGCIL, NTPC, and more. Additionally, between October 2021 and January 2022, 678 public EV charging stations have been installed in the above-mentioned 9 cities which is 2.5 times the earlier numbers during the same period.
After the saturation of EV infrastructure in these 9 cities, the Government aims to expand the coverage in a phased manner to other areas. For that, Oil Marketing companies have announced setting up 22,000 EV charging stations in prominent cities and on national highways across the country. To support this, there were some changes in the electric vehicle policy in India relating to the charging infrastructure that describes the role and responsibilities of various stakeholders at the central and state level. *
What are the things to consider when looking for an EV charging station?
When planning your journey, at present, you need to have the following pointers in your mind.
- How far is the charging station?
- Is it compatible with my vehicle?
- Is it possible to leave the vehicle unattended during charging?
- How much is the cost of charging?
- What is the power output of the charger?
With these questions answered, your logistic concerns around EVs and their charging facilities in public can be addressed. Further, you can plan your travel, be it a bike or car. In addition to these, some insurance companies may also make EV charging facilities available. You can know more about it when buying your electric car or electric scooter insurance.
Whether you are looking for an insurance cover for electric cars, bikes, or electric hybrid cars in India, make sure to use a four or two-wheeler insurance premium calculator. It is a free tool made available by most insurance companies that help you compare the different available plans for features, as well as their price. * Standard T&C Apply
Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.
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