New Guidelines From The Ministry Of Power To Promote Battery Swapping Sector.

Key Highlights:

• The Ministry of Power has released new guidelines to promote battery swapping and EV charging infrastructure in India.
• States must appoint a Nodal Agency to coordinate with DISCOMs and SERCs for station installations.
• Companies like Sun Mobility and Battery Smart welcome the guidelines for expanding battery swapping.
• New policies support battery swapping as a cost-effective alternative to traditional charging.
• India's battery swapping sector is growing slowly, but the government plans to set up 450,000 swapping stations.

The Ministry of Power has released updated guidelines for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, including specific provisions for battery swapping stations. This move is seen as a major step to enhance the adoption of electric mobility in India. The guidelines, issued by Saket Kumar Sinha, Under Secretary to the Government of India, outline clear directives for the installation and operation of battery swapping and charging stations. 

State governments have been instructed to appoint a State Nodal Agency (SNA) to collaborate with DISCOMs and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) for streamlining electricity connections for public, community, workplace, and e-bus depot charging infrastructure. State DISCOMs will act as the default Nodal Agency unless state governments decide otherwise.

Industry Response to the New Guidelines

The EV industry has welcomed the guidelines, with major players like Sun Mobility, Battery Smart, Gogoro, VoltUp, Esmito, ChargeUp, and RACE Energy expressing optimism.

Pramod Sharma, COO of heavy vehicle swapping at Sun Mobility, highlighted the importance of these guidelines in promoting battery swapping as an alternative to traditional charging. The Ministry of Power’s revisions to the Principal Guidelines on Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVCI) are expected to enhance the battery swapping ecosystem, alongside new safety standards issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

Pulkit Khurana, co-founder of Battery Smart, stated that recognizing battery swapping as a viable option marks a strong foundation for EV adoption. He emphasized the potential of these guidelines to address traditional charging barriers and accelerate India's EV transition.

State-Level Steering Committees

The guidelines also call for the establishment of state-level steering committees, led by the Secretary in charge of Energy. These committees will include officials from Transport, Municipal Administration, and Urban Development departments to ensure the smooth implementation of EV charging infrastructure.

State Public Sector Undertakings (SPSUs), Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), or Urban Development Authorities will assist in setting up battery-swapping stations.

Challenges in Battery Swapping

Despite the optimism, India’s battery swapping sector faces slow growth. With only 2,500 battery swapping stations nationwide compared to 25,202 charging stations for fixed batteries, the sector needs significant expansion.

Sun Mobility and Battery Smart lead the market, each operating nearly 1,000 stations. Sun Mobility has partnered with Indian Oil to establish over 10,000 stations in more than 40 cities within three years.

Advocates argue that India will require around 450,000 swapping stations. Vehicles without batteries are 40-45% cheaper, making electric mobility more affordable and addressing concerns about range and charging times.

Also Read: Yuma Energy Expands to Noida with Battery Swapping Stations

CMV360 Says

The Ministry of Power's updated guidelines offer a strong foundation for the growth of battery swapping in India. By addressing infrastructure challenges and promoting standardization, these policies can transform the EV sector and make electric mobility more accessible to the masses. However, accelerating the rollout of swapping stations remains a priority for achieving long-term goals.