The Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Apollo Hospitals Enterprises, a chain of super-specialty hospitals in India, to install public electric vehicle charging stations at its hospital premises across the country.

“This is the first such MoU by the EESL with a private partner to set up public charging infrastructure in the country,” the company said in a statement.

According to the memorandum, the EESL will invest in the specified services and deploy qualified workforce for the operation and maintenance of the public charging infrastructure. Apollo Hospitals will provide the required space and power connections for the charging infrastructure.

“Developing a strong supporting infrastructure is vital to building consumer confidence in electric vehicles. Our MoU with Apollo Hospitals reinforces the role of the private sector in achieving the goal of National Electric Mobility Program. Electric mobility is vital to reducing airborne emissions and enhancing air quality, a cause the healthcare sector can resonate with,” said Venkatesh Dwivedi, EESL director of the project.

According to the EESL, a joint venture of public sector units under the Ministry of Power has already commissioned 300 AC and 170 DC chargers across India, and 55 public charging points are currently operational in Delhi NCR. The company has also partnered with urban local bodies in cities like Hyderabad, Noida, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Chennai.

The company spokesperson told Mercom that the EV charging infrastructure would be installed preferably at the parking locations of Apollo Hospitals based on the locational assessment survey and feasibility study.

“The installations up to 100 EV charging stations will be taken up phase-wise, and cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Ahmedabad, will be targeted for the implementation of the project,” he added.

Earlier this year, the EESL had issued a tender for 200 fast chargers along with three years’ on-site warranty and annual maintenance contract. This initiative was called Demand-Side Energy Efficiency Investment Project.

In July 2019, the Department of Heavy Industry (DHI), had invited proposals for deploying electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the country’s big and smart cities under the Union government’s FAME program.