EXPANSION OF EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE

**Executive Summary** This document, dated December 12, 2023, details the expansion of EV charging infrastructure in India. It outlines updated EV battery standards from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and safety standards from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The Ministry of Power (MoP) has issued guidelines in January 2025. **Key Points / Main Content** * **EV Battery Standards & Safety:** * MoRTH has amended AIS-156 and AIS-038 (Rev. 2) standards for L, M, and N category electric vehicles, applicable since December 2022. These standards prescribe technical requirements for traction batteries. * BIS has published safety standards and test protocols for lithium-ion batteries, including: * IS 18237: 2023: Safety of Primary and Secondary Lithium Cells and Batteries during Transport. * IS 16893 (Part 2):2018: Secondary lithium - Ion cells for the propulsion of electric road vehicles: Part 2 reliability and abuse testing. * IS 16893 2018 (Part 3): Secondary Lithium - Ion Cells for the Propulsion of Electric Road Vehicles Part 3 Safety Requirements. * IS 16805: 2018: Secondary Cells and Batteries Containing Alkaline or Other Non-Acid Electrolytes – Safety Requirements for Secondary Lithium Cells and Batteries, for use in Industrial Applications. * IS 16046 (Part 2):2018: Secondary Cells and Batteries containing Alkaline or other Non-Acid Electrolytes – Safety Requirements for portable sealed secondary cells and for batteries made from them for use in portable applications Part 2 Lithium systems. * **R&D Initiatives:** * The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), under the Development of Electric Vehicle Sub-Systems (EVSS) program, is undertaking R&D for indigenous EV sub-systems, including motor/controller/converters/chargers/Battery Management System (BMS). R&D projects for BMS and AC/DC chargers have been initiated. * **Charging Infrastructure Development:** * Rs. 912.50 crore was sanctioned under FAME-II for setting up EV public charging stations (EVPCS). * Rs. 2,000 crore is allocated under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme for EV charging infrastructure deployment. * The Ministry of Power (MoP) has issued guidelines in January, 2025 to accelerate a connected and interoperable EV charging ecosystem. * 29,151 EV charging stations installed in India, with 12,033 being fast chargers. * **Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Manufacturing:** * Rs. 18,100 crore has been allocated under the PLI ACC scheme to boost domestic manufacturing of ACCs, aiming to establish 50 GWh capacity over 7 years. **Impact Analysis** **EV Manufacturers (L, M, N categories)** * **Impact:** Must adhere to the amended AIS-156 and AIS-038 (Rev. 2) standards for traction batteries, ensuring compliance with technical requirements. * **Action Required:** Implement necessary design and testing changes to meet the updated standards. **Battery Manufacturers** * **Impact:** Must comply with the BIS safety standards and test protocols for lithium-ion batteries, impacting manufacturing processes and quality control. * **Action Required:** Align production with the specified standards (IS 18237, IS 16893, IS 16805, IS 16046), incorporating safety requirements and test protocols. **Charging Station Operators/Providers** * **Impact:** Beneficiaries of the FAME-II scheme funding and PM E-DRIVE scheme, involved in setting up EV public charging stations. Expected to align with MoP guidelines. * **Action Required:** Leverage available funding for infrastructure development and ensure alignment with the Ministry of Power guidelines issued in January, 2025. **Consumers/EV Users** * **Impact:** Access to safer and standardized EV batteries and increased availability of public charging infrastructure. * **Action Required:** Stay informed about the growing network of charging stations and the safety standards applicable to their vehicles' batteries.

Key Entities Referenced