Individuals can now set up EV charging stations, earn income in Telangana!

Hyderabad: With many potential EV buyers expressing concern over running out of battery power without access to a nearby charging station, the Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation (TGREDCO) has decided to encourage individuals to set up charging stations in the State, especially in Hyderabad and surrounding areas.

According to TGREDCO officials, individuals who have plot sizes ranging from 300 to 500 square yards could approach REDCO for establishing EV charging stations and start a business.

“If the people are not interested in setting up their own EV charging stations, they can even lease their land to agencies and get monthly rent,” officials suggested. It will cost Rs 5 lakh for creating a basic EV station that caters to the needs of one four-wheeler and two two-wheelers, the officials said.

The Centre is allowing individuals to set up electric vehicle charging stations without any licence, but it was crucial to meet the government guidelines to ensure the safety and efficiency of the charging station, officials said. The first step in setting up an electric charging station is choosing the location, which involves considering various factors such as proximity to power supply, accessibility to users and more.

After choosing the location, it is crucial for EV charging station owners to obtain all necessary permits or licences from the local authorities. A licence is not needed to start an EV charging station, but individuals need to obtain a permit to install a distribution system. The process needs to be carried out by the area’s  electricity department.

After obtaining the licence and permit, you can install the charging equipment, such as chargers, connectors and other things, on the site. Furthermore, setting up the payment infrastructure is also crucial for receiving the payment from customers.

All the equipment must meet the government standards. Another requirement is to have a designated or safe parking area where customers can park their cars and charge them.All the charger models installed on the electric vehicle charging station need to meet international and national standards. Installation of different EV chargers used by vehicle owners, such as slow chargers, rapid chargers and others has to be done. Safety measures need to be fulfilled at the charging stations to avoid any incidents or hazards.

Currently, there are about 425 charging stations, both private and government, functioning across the State. At present, there are 1.7 lakh EVs — 1.3 lakh bikes and 12,765 cars — in the State.