Currently, there are 7,013 working electric vehicle chargers across the country. However, due to specific constraints, they accomplish relatively little in terms of providing convenience to electric vehicle owners and increasing EV adoption. The most significant challenge with present charging stations is the lack of interoperability between EV charging services and applications produced by these companies.
As a result, a user with a specific brand of electric vehicle can identify charging stations that are solely installed for their unique make and model.
In response to the difficulty, the government agency NITI Aayog is leading the creation of a mobile app that would collect all EV charging and swapping stations on a single app and assist customers in identifying the closest accessible space for a streamlined experience.
The master application will consolidate all charging points onto a single platform owned and administered by the Indian government. On the portal, users will be able to utilise the app to identify and schedule electric vehicle charging places, as well as make online payments using an in-built e-wallet.
Existing charge service providers and other industry players, on the other hand, are concerned about sharing proprietary data with third parties. These companies are also hesitant since the aggregator application may render their own apps obsolete. To address these concerns, NITI Aayog has solicited input from stakeholders and would collaborate with them to identify acceptable solutions.
Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESC) was the first to propose the aggregator app concept. Currently, several electric vehicle charging providers and manufacturers have charging infrastructure scattered around the country. These companies include Tata Motors, MO, Mercedes-Benz, EESL, and others.
Furthermore, Rs 1,000 crore has been provided under the FAME 11 Scheme for the installation of electric vehicle chargers across the country, while oil marketing corporations have recently been allocated Rs 800 crore for the installation of 22,000 fast chargers at gasoline pumps.
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