A senior official has revealed that the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is set to expand the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Lutyens’ Delhi while also introducing battery swapping facilities at select locations. The aim behind this initiative is to encourage residents to opt for cleaner transportation options, given the high pollution levels that have made Delhi one of the most polluted capitals in the world.
Currently, there are around 100 EV charging stations across the national capital. However, the upcoming addition of battery swapping facilities, a common feature in Western countries, will be a first for some of these stations.
The primary objective of NDMC is to enhance the accessibility of charging infrastructure and save time for EV owners by providing convenient battery swapping services.
This endeavor is expected to significantly boost the adoption of EVs in Delhi. Several public sector undertakings (PSUs), including Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited (REIL) and Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KELTRON), have already expressed their interest in collaborating with the NDMC to establish public charging stations, as confirmed by the official.
“Moreover, there is an urgent need to give a push to EVs to provide the city more green alternatives. Also, several app-based aggregators are moving to e-bikes. Once there is a web of such stations, people will not worry about the issue of charging and then there will be more such vehicles,” said Mr Upadhyay.
“The plan to add more EV charging stations is under process, but we are also planning to install battery swapping facilities at some of the prominent stations,” Mr Upadhyay added.
NDMC Vice Chairman Satish Upadhyay highlighted that the increasing prices of petrol and diesel are expected to drive the demand for electric vehicles. In this context, battery swapping offers an alternative approach by allowing the exchange of discharged batteries for fully charged ones. This approach effectively decouples the vehicle from its power source, leading to a reduction in the upfront cost of EVs. To ensure a well-planned infrastructure, the NDMC will develop a policy addressing the location selection, total number of charging stations, and the allocation process.
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