30 e-vehicle charging station sites marked, to be finalised, Auto News, ET Auto

Ludhiana: In response the transport department’s proposal of building 30 charging stations for electric vehicles in the city, the municipal corporation has identified 10 sites, while Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (Glada) has marked 20 possible locations.

In the next days, an e-transport company will visit the city for conducting a feasibility survey, based on which the locations will be finalised. The MC and Glada claim to have tried to pick spots that have direct access for public and which received a large number of daily commuters. To name a few, the civic body has proposed the Rose Garden parking, MC’s multi-level parking, Hambran Road fire station, and MC’s Gill Road zonal office.

A committee was framed for this purpose and its members told to submit a report. The use of electric vehicles has increased and, being battery-operated, those e-bikes, e-rickshaws, and e-cars being introduced require charging stations. Electric vehicles are being encourages for a smoke-free environment in the city, since these have zero emissions.

The principal secretary of the transport department had asked us to locate the sites where charging stations can be set up, and we came out with 10 spot, while Glada identified another 20 in its jurisdiction..Aaditya Dacchalwal, Additional Commissioner

Confirming the hunt for charging-station points, additional commissioner Aaditya Dacchalwal said: “The principal secretary of the transport department had asked us to locate the sites where charging stations can be set up, and we came out with 10 spot, while Glada identified another 20 in its jurisdiction. Now their feasibility will be checked.”

Transport department

This project is conceived by the state transport department and it will now sign a memorandum of understanding with a private company that has installed 200-odd charging stations for electric vehicles in Delhi. This company will come to the city next week. There are claims that one electric vehicle can be charged in 10 minutes but the count of charging points at one station is yet to be finalised, along with the cost of charging.

MC’s e-vehicle plan

The MC plans to replace the old bicycle carts of its door-to-door garbage collectors with e-rickshaws. The officials claimed that the pedal-pushed carts were outdated and not designed for holding segregated garbage bins, so e-rickshaws will be a good change. The feasibility of operating e-buses will also be checked.

The minister said charging stations and charging points would be set up . This facility would be made available at petrol pumps and other places as well. Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board has been identified as a nodal agency for this purpose.