Launch of Residential EV Charging Guidebook
Key Highlights
- Delhi Government launches Residential EV Charging Handbook; Delhi residents to get step-by-step guidelines to install the charging points at their premises.
- The initiative will increase affordability and access of EV chargers to common citizens and make the installation process hassle-free.
- Delhi becomes the first state government in India to make residential societies and RWAs an integral part of its EV mission.
- Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot along with DDC VC Jasmine Shah inaugurates an EV charging station under the single window facility at RWA, Vasant Kunj.
DDC Delhi and WRI India launched the ‘Residential EV Charging Guidebook’ on February 28 2022 at Sector A, Resident Welfare Associate, Vasant Kunj. The guidebook has been developed with the objective to provide step-by-step guidelines for Delhi residents to set up EV charging stations at their premises. It addresses the common concerns of RWA or residential complexes like space planning not limiting to present EVs in RWA, choosing the right mix of EV chargers, power load management etc. and sharing best practices for RWAs.
Sh. Kailash Gahlot, Transport Minister, GNCTD along with Sh. Jasmine Shah, Vice Chairperson of DDC Delhi also inaugurated 2 EV charging stations within the premises of the RWA. The charging stations are part of 30,000 charging points that will benefit from the INR 6000 available subsidy under this initiative. Under the ‘Switch Delhi’ campaign, the Delhi Government has developed a single window facility for citizens to make applications for the installation of EV charging points and avail of the subsidy from the comfort of their homes without any hassles. With the subsidy, one can buy a 3.3 kW LEVAC charger for less than INR 2500 in comparison to the existing market price of the charger at more than INR 8500.
As part of the initiative, the three DISCOMs namely BRPL, BYPL and TPDDL have already empanelled more than 10 EV charger vendors, which will be providing trusted and certified chargers to citizens as per the standards stipulated by the government. One can submit a request for EV charging point installation in less than 5 mins along with an EV charging connection (if required) through their respective DISCOM’s ‘Switch Delhi’ webpage. The government has mandated an electricity rate of INR 4.5 per unit for all such EV connections, which is among the lowest in India. Under the initiative, more than 100 requests have already been received by 3 DISCOMs and the installation of 19 EV charging points has already been completed comprising both private and semi-public usages.
The launch of the Residential EV charging guidebook was attended by the CEO of BRPL, Sh. Rajesh Bansal with special invitees as Sh. Naresh Yadav, MLA Mehrauli, and representations from RWA associations like URJA and Federation of CGHS, Dwarka association. Through this guidebook, the Delhi Government seeks to encourage all Residential complexes to join hands in promoting Electric vehicles by adopting EV charging at their places. Delhi Government has already taken several steps, including directing all existing commercial and institutional buildings, with a parking capacity of 100 or more vehicles to reserve 5% of their parking space for EVs with suitable EV chargers with a minimum output of 3.3KW. In addition, as per Delhi Development Authority's amended United Building Bye Laws (2016), 20% of parking capacity in all new constructions, must be provided with charging infrastructure for EVs.
The Delhi Government has already adopted a forward-looking comprehensive EV policy on 7th August 2020, with a vision to promote faster adoption of electric vehicles in the city and to make Delhi, the EV capital of India. With an aim to improve Delhi’s air quality, it envisages Electric vehicle sales to reach 25% of all new vehicles by 2024. In 2021, EV sales in Delhi contributed to 5.6% of total vehicle sales, the highest in India whereas in the month of Dec 2021, this share was more than 10% for the national capital. Good to see that 13% of the total private electric 4W sold in India in 2021 were from Delhi only.