The Ministry of Heavy Industries has sanctioned 2,877 charging stations in 68 cities across 25 states/UTs under Phase-II of FAME India Scheme, Minister of State for Heavy Industries Krishan Pal Gurjar said in a reply in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
The ministry has also sanctioned 1,576 EV charging stations across 16 highways and 9 expressways under this phase.
As per the Ministry of Power guidelines, there shall be at least one charging station at every 25 kilometres on both sides of the highway and also at least one charging station for long range, heavy duty EVs at every 100 kms on both sides of the highway. For the city at least one charging station will be set up in a grid of 3km x 3km.
The Ministry of Heavy Industries had sanctioned about 520 charging stations and infrastructure for about ₹43 crore under Phase-I of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme.
A budget provision of ₹1,000 crore has been earmarked for a period of five years (2019-20 to 2023-24) for establishment of charging infrastructure under Phase-II of FAME India Scheme, the minister said.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said rapid strides in technology and green fuel will cut the cost of electric vehicles, bringing them on par with petrol-run vehicles in two years time.
"I can say within maximum two years, the cost of electric scooter, car, autorickshaw will be same as petrol-driven scooter, car, autorickshaw. Prices of lithium-ion battery are coming down. We are developing this chemistry of zinc-ion, aluminium-ion, sodium-ion batteries. If petrol, you are spending Rs 100, then on electric vehicle you will spend Rs 10 (for using)," Gadkari said.
