The Tamil Nadu state government has outlined an ambitious plan for a roughly five-fold increase of its 400-odd charging state to touch 2000 charging stations by the end of FY25.
The state government has stated that it will work closely with its power and distribution arm, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO), as well as oil marketing companies, to boost EV adoption in the state as part of its plan to decarbonise both public and private transportation.
T. R. B. Rajaa, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Industries, Investment Promotions, and Commerce Department, confirmed this development to Autocar Professional exclusively at the recent India EV Conclave in Chennai. The EV was held with Autocar Professional in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu government.
“Currently, we don’t have enough electric vehicle charging facilities in the state. But in a short period, you are going to see a multi-fold expansion in the state’s charging infrastructure,” Rajaa said.
According to the state’s electric vehicle policy, which was issued in 2019, it is mandatory to install e-vehicle charging stations every 25 kilometres along highways and roads throughout the state.
The state has assigned the responsibility of identifying suitable locations along highways to establish e-vehicle charging stations to its power distribution company (TANGEDCO), which has shortlisted close to 100 sites in the near term and is likely to issue tenders for the same by the end of the current fiscal year.
The government plans to launch an EV portal, which will integrate all charging stations in the state.
“As we strive to become India’s EV charging capital, we want to correct our EV adoption by providing consumers with more charging stations and eliminating range anxiety,” Rajaa emphasised.
As of September 2023, Tamil Nadu had nearly 4.14 lakh electric vehicles on the road.
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