The Town and Country Planning Organization, Ministry of Housing, and Ministry of Urban Affairs have released amendments to Model Building By-Laws (MBBL) to provide for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for residential and other buildings (including group housing building).

The amendments are based on available charging technologies, type of vehicles and the types of chargers. These have been used to estimate the number of charging points required for setting up adequate public charging stations (PCS) within the local urban areas including the building premises of all building types.

Charging station infrastructure required based on the type building:

Residential Buildings (charging Infrastructure requirements for self-use)

The provision states that based on the occupancy pattern and the total parking provisions in the premises of various building types, charging infrastructures should be provided for EVs, which is currently assumed to be 20 percent of all vehicle holding or parking capacity at the premise. The building is also mandated to have an additional power load equivalent to the power required for all charging points in a public charging station to be operated simultaneously.

 All other buildings including group housing (charging Infrastructure requirements for commercial use)

According to the amendments, any charging station installed at public or private area or building premises of any category that caters to commercial mode of charging of EVs will be deemed as a “Public Charging Station” and will have to install the minimum requirements of chargers as specified in the guidelines dated 14.12.2018 issued by the Ministry of Power (MoP).

The ministries’ have also released amendments in Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation Guidelines (URDPFI). These amendments provide for EV charging infrastructure to be incorporated under Chapter 8: Infrastructure Planning, in section 8.4.7 “Distribution Services.” According to these amendments PCS’ should be available at district centers, community centers, residential and industrial use zone in urban areas, along with the national, state highways and villages identified as growth centers.

The amendments also state that PCS should be available every 25 kilometers at both sides along the highways or roads. Also, fast charging stations (for long distance and heavy-duty EVs) should be available at every 100 km on both sides along the highways or roads.

In December 2018, Mercom reported on MoP announcing guidelines and standards for the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in India.

Shaurya is a staff reporter at MercomIndia.com with experience working in the Indian solar energy industry for the past four years in various roles. Prior to joining Mercom, Shaurya worked with a renewable energy developer and a consulting company. Shaurya holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Management from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom.