NATRIP Implementation Society (NATIS) has issued a tender for setting up testing infrastructure for electric vehicles at three locations. NATIS is an autonomous body constituted by the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises to implement National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRIP).

The brief scope of work includes the design, manufacture, assembly, integration of systems supplies of special tools, software, spares, and after sale service support and training at three sites – GARC Chennai, ICAT Manesar, and NATRAX Indore. NATIS has seven automotive test facilities across India.

To be eligible to bid, a bidder should have at least five years of experience in designing, sourcing, supplying, and executing relevant projects pertaining to the equipment range mentioned in the tender.

The last date for the submission of bids is February 21, 2019. The technical bids will open on the same date.

India’s electric vehicle segment has witnessed a lot of buzz from the government recently.

Recently, the National Institute of Transforming India (NITI) Aayog issued a model concession agreement for public private partnership aimed at the operation and maintenance of electric buses in cities across the country. It has also released a proposal to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Delhi drafted by AC2SG, a Finland-based Smart Grid Software solutions provider, in collaboration with NITI Aayog. The proposal calls for developing a quick pilot project that would provide a blueprint for the larger planned rollout of EV infrastructure.

In December 2018, the Ministry of Power announced guidelines and standards for the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in India.

These guidelines are expected to bring clarity to consumers and businesses such as EV charging station providers and equipment manufacturers in creating their respective development strategies.

In July 2018, the government slashed the applicable rate of the Goods and Services Tax on lithium ion batteries to propel the growth of electric vehicles.

Earlier, Mercom reported that EV sales so far have been inconsistent under the FAME program due to issues such as skyrocketing price of lithium batteries, lack of innovation, funding crunch, scarce testing facilities, and lack of charging stations.