At least 100 electric charging stations will be opened for the public across Kerala by the end of December 2021.
As many as 10 new pillar charging stations have been installed by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) in Kozhikode city for the public where they can scan and pay the money using mobile phone. In the same station, two wheelers can also be charged.
KSEB has also issued an order to hire only e-vehicles for its official purposes and the Agency for Non-conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT) has already handed over 30 e-vehicles to various government departments of the state.
Kozhikode city has the most number of e-autorickshaws prompting the Electricity Board to take up its pilot project of charging pillars in the city.
The pillar charging station requires very less space, similar to an electricity pole, and if found effective, it would revolutionise the e-vehicle scenario in the state. KSEB plans to expand it beyond the Kozhikode city soon.
An amount of Rs 15 per unit will be charged from the customer whereas in other states, the rates go up to Rs 22 per unit. At present, KSEB has six charging stations in the state and 36 more will come up.
ANERT will open 20 more charging stations in FY22. KSEB has also decided to allow private entrepreneurs to operate the same.
ANERT has already provided 30 electric vehicles to various government departments for lease as part of the Carbon Neutral Governance programme. At least 20 more vehicles will be provided by November 2021.
KSEB has already decided to scrap its own old vehicles plying for its official purpose and replace it with EVs in a phased manner.
As per the e-vehicle policy of the state government, the KSRTC, the state-run road transport corporation has plans for transition of its entire fleet of over 6,000 buses to electric vehicles by 2025. There are electric charging stations inside major KSRTC bus depots.
KSEB plans to work with the state government to set up charging stations in all district headquarters as well as other large government offices.