Ministry of Power has released detailed guidelines for the establishment and functioning of Battery Swapping Stations (BSS) and Charging Stations (BCS), promoting battery swapping as a viable alternative to traditional charging methods.
12 Jan 2025 | 4893 Views | By Amit Vijay M
Battery swapping operators are poised for a new lease of life following the Ministry of Power's new guidelines on electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The Ministry of Power has recently issued updated guidelines for installing and operating battery-swapping electric vehicle charging infrastructure through a recent order.
According to the ...
This is an Autocar Pro Plus article. Subscribe to continue reading.
Battery swapping operators are poised for a new lease of life following the Ministry of Power's new guidelines on electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The Ministry of Power has recently issued updated guidelines for installing and operating battery-swapping electric vehicle charging infrastructure through a recent order.
According to the order issued by Saket Kumar Sinha, Under Secretary to the Government of India, the Power Ministry has established separate guidelines and directives for the installation and operation of battery swapping and charging stations. These have been communicated to all secretaries of various ministries and chief secretaries of states.
The order specifies that each state must appoint a State Nodal Agency (SNA) tasked with coordinating efforts with DISCOMs and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERC) to streamline the provision of electricity connections for public, community, workplace, and e-bus depot charging stations for both fixed and battery swapping stations.
State governments have been granted the discretion to select their Nodal Agency, with state DISCOMs serving as the default option.
Industry in a buoyant mood following the regulations
These guidelines from the government are expected to provide essential clarity for battery swapping companies such as Sun Mobility, Battery Smart, Gogoro, VoltUp, Esmito, ChargeUp, and RACE Energy.
Pramod Sharma, Chief Operating Officer for heavy vehicle swapping at Sun Mobility, explains that the Ministry of Power has released detailed guidelines for the establishment and functioning of Battery Swapping Stations (BSS) and Charging Stations (BCS), promoting battery swapping as a viable alternative to traditional charging methods.
Additionally, the Ministry has revised the Principal Guidelines on Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVCI), initially issued in September 2024, to include measures that support the expansion of battery swapping in India.
Sharma notes that these policies, along with the safety standards for swap stations catering to the "M" and "N" categories established by BIS, will significantly advance the development of the battery-swapping ecosystem in India.
According to Sharma of Sun Mobility, these policies, in tandem with the safety standards for the swap stations catering to the "M" and "N" category, notified by BIS earlier, will go a long way in catalyzing the battery swapping ecosystem in India.
The expansion of battery swapping alongside traditional charging technology will provide consumers with a variety of electric vehicle (EV) options tailored to their specific needs.
"This development will further ease the transition to EVs. I would like to express my gratitude to the Ministry of Power, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, BIS, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the Ministry of Heavy Industries, the Bureau of Indian Standards, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industries for their proactive role in formulating progressive policies aimed at enhancing EV adoption in India," Sharma stated.
Commenting on the guidelines, Pulkit Khurana, co-founder of Battery Smart, stated that the Ministry of Power's recognition of battery swapping as a viable alternative to conventional charging marks a significant step forward in India's electric mobility journey. "These guidelines establish a strong foundation for the EV ecosystem, reinforcing battery swapping's potential to overcome traditional charging barriers and drive widespread EV adoption. This move aligns with India's sustainable mobility vision, and we're optimistic about its impact on accelerating the EV transition."
The regulations require the establishment of a state-level steering committee, led by the Secretary in charge of Energy, which will include secretaries from Transport, Municipal Administration, and Urban Development, along with other necessary members, to oversee the planning and execution of EV Charging Infrastructure at the state level.
Additionally, the directive specifies that states will appoint State Public Sector Undertakings (SPSUs), Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), or Urban Development authorities to assist in the establishment of battery-swapping stations.
Slow Progress
India's battery swapping sector has experienced slow growth, primarily due to challenges related to battery standardization and infrastructure, resulting in only 2,500 battery swapping stations nationwide compared to 25,202 charging stations for vehicles with fixed batteries.
Currently, Sun Mobility and Battery Smart are the frontrunners in the battery swapping market, each operating nearly 1,000 stations. Sun Mobility has formed a joint venture with Indian Oil to establish over 10,000 stations across more than 40 cities within three years.
Advocates of battery swapping argue that India will require 450,000 swapping stations, as vehicles without batteries are approximately 40-45% more affordable, thereby making electric mobility more accessible and alleviating concerns regarding range and charging time for electric vehicles.