India is promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs) on a grand scale, as evidenced by the government’s initial move to convert fuled public transport, including buses, taxis and autos, to EVs. With increasing concerns about air pollution, citizens are gradually opting for EVs, whether scooters, e-autos, or four-wheelers. Industry reports suggest that in 2023, Maharashtra led in e-car registrations, followed by Delhi and Karnataka. In the e-bike category, Maharashtra also had the highest registrations, trailed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Source: WRI India Ross Centre
To facilitate easy adoption, a set of guidelines was required. Did you know that Maharashtra is the first state to establish standard operating procedures for Electric Vehicles?
Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Policy, 2021
The Maharashtra government issued the standard operating procedure (SoP) to ensure the fire and electrical safety of electrical vehicle charging stations to protect human life and property.
Guidelines
Technical and safety standards
If the charging station is installed by housing societies, malls, multi-storey buildings and office complexes etc. they should meet the technical, safety and performance standards mentioned by the Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for connectivity of the Distributed Generation Resources) Amendment Regulations 2019 and Central Electricity Authority (Measures related to Safety and Electric Supply) Amendment Regulations 2019) Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006 and directives issued from urban local bodies time to time.
Licensed contractors
All the electrical installation work for the charging station shall be carried out by the licensed electrical contractor approved by the Maharashtra state government.
Clear notices about chargers
If multiple chargers are in use, there should be clear and prominent notices at each charging point indicating for which equipment or vehicle(s) i.e., AC or DC it is suitable.
Differentiation of DC fast chargers
The DC fast charge operating at 500V DC should be clearly differentiated from conventional charging points because of the hazards associated with the direct current. Measures should be taken to ensure that signs and labels associated with these chargers are not removed or defaced.
Location in multi-storey car parks
When charging points are to be provided in multi-storey car parks, consideration should be given to locating these in the open air at roof deck level to minimise potential for fire spread within the structure.
Height and proximity
All electric vehicle charging points shall be installed so that any socket-outlet of supply is at least 800 millimeter (mm) above the highest flood level.
The electric vehicle parking place shall be such that the connection on the vehicle when parked for charging shall be within five meter from the electric vehicle charging point.
Child proofing
The charging point should be child-proof and installed away from any children’s play area.
Charging bay markings
Charging bays should be prominently signed and marked on the ground to allow vehicles to park close to the charging point and prevent the stretching of charging cables. The length of charging cables should be sufficient to use with the intended equipment without risk of damage.
Protection against damage
Charging points should be protected against mechanical damage by vehicles, as well as from water and foreign objects.
No parking at charging areas
Parking of other vehicles in charging areas should be prohibited. Barriers should be introduced to prevent charging bays from being used as conventional parking spaces.
Separation from combustible materials: Where physical separation of a vehicle charging area within a building is not practicable, no charging should be undertaken within 10 metres of any combustible materials—be they waste materials, stock, or combustible elements of the structure. Similarly, no charging should occur within 15 metres of hazardous installations such as transformers, flammable liquid stores, and liquefied petroleum gas tanks.
Installation and maintenance
All chargers and associated equipment should be installed, used, and maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Servicing and maintenance should be carried out by a competent licensed electrician.
Testing and certification
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) must be type-tested by an agency/lab accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) or any other regulatory authority for this purpose from time to time.
Outdoor installation
If the connection point is installed outdoors or in a damp location, the equipment must have a degree of Ingress Protection Code in accordance with IS/IEC 60529.
Residential vs commercial: EV charging station implementation
Do the rules of EV charging station implementation vary between commercial and residential properties? “Yes, they do vary. In commercial properties, individual stations are not allowed, and fast-charging DC points are installed. In contrast, residential properties typically use AC points with a capacity of 3.7 KW,” says Anil R G, managing director, Concorde.
How are EV charging usage billed in a property?
Note that each EV charging installation shall have sufficient load allotted to accommodate house load along with EV charging. Typically, in existing residential complexes, the homeowner extends the connection to their parking bay from their home meter and pays for the infrastructure.
“When a request for installation of an EV charger came to the managing committee, we were apprehensive on who will be making the bill payment. As the metre was to be installed in the parking lot, the common cause of worry was if the charges for this will be added to the society electricity bill. On enquiring, we got clarity that the EV charging meter will be associated with the owner’s home metre and he will pay for it, ”said, Balasubramium, ex-chairman of Navkunj Housing Society.
Anil adds that to address potential infrastructure changes and avoid mishaps, in most societies, a dedicated parking bay from the common area is rented to a third party to manage the setup, which includes an app for controlling charging and payments. In new properties, homeowners need to notify in advance, and the infrastructure is set up during the construction stage.
What is the process to be followed if a homeowner owning an EV wants to install a charger in the complex?
An EV user must request permission from the society by submitting an application and attaching all required documents, including particulars of the charger, design plan for installation, etc. According to CA Ramesh Prabhu, Chairman of the Mumbai Suburban District Cooperative Housing Federation, the society must issue a no objection certificate (NOC) within seven days of receiving the application for installing an EV charging station. If the society does not grant the NOC, the applicant may approach the registrar to obtain the necessary NOC. Prabhu added that there is no GR specifying that charging stations cannot be installed in a building’s basement due to fire hazards.
Ahmad Qazi, a resident of Bandra, said, “ I was one of the earliest users of EV in my society. When I enquired about installing an EV charger in my parking lot, the society chairman was apprehensive.Once I submitted my documents that included a test report of a government recognised contractor, my KYC, photos, proof of ownership of property and existing electricity bill, I got the NOC from the society.”
What is the costing of EV charging?
Industry reports suggest that charging EV in a public space will be around Rs 100-200 and charging EV in home space will be around Rs 180-500. The time taken to charge depends on the model of the car, charging speed of the point and battery size of the car. The minimum time for a full charge in modern electric cars is around 1 hour.
What encourages homebuyers to opt for electric vehicles?
While the option of cost may or may not work for all, more and more people are getting environmentally conscious and want to do their bit and be a part of the ‘you be the change movement’. This is one of the most important aspects why homebuyers opt for EVs.
What stops homebuyers from opting for electric vehicles?
Despite the government’s proactive measures outlining the dos and don’ts of EV charging, significant barriers remain regarding the ease of charging vehicles in residential complexes.
Sreelesh S, a resident of one of Navi Mumbai’s premium gated properties was convinced about the environmental benefits and first invested in an e-scooter and then proceeded to book a luxurious EV SUV that was to be delivered in the coming months. However, he faced a setback that led him to withdraw from his purchase. “I had an e-scooter and had booked an EV SUV. It’s been a year that I had been following up with the facility management (FM) of the society for fixing the charger for the e-scooter. In my request to them, I had sent along an action plan- wiring my meter to the parking lot, installing a 5A simple socket+switch and hanging the scooter charger on the wall. Additionally, on checking I was told no permission was required from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDL). However, there was no action taken even on providing all required information. This lag of one year caused too much inconvenience as I had to get my e-scooter charged in my old society or other public places with a charging facility, gradually leading me to sell my e-scooter too.”
Sreelesh added that the FM, citing the low number of EVs in the society, suggested installing a common charging station, which undermines convenience. “Although there may be only a few EVs now, the number will increase. In a society with almost 800 flats, the absence of individual charging stations in the parking area could lead to long waits at a common facility. After evaluating all these factors and receiving no support, I had to cancel my SUV order, sell my e-scooter, and book a fuel-powered SUV. This lack of infrastructure significantly discourages the use of EVs”, he said.
While this is one example of a owner in a housing society, there are many such instances where people across the city have to opt for public charging station owing to absence of charging station infrastructure in their own parking space.
Housing.com POV
Although the cost savings may not always materialise, given that EVs are still relatively expensive in India, the significant benefits of contributing to environmental sustainability and reducing pollution are major factors driving their popularity. Despite government incentives and rebates promoting EV adoption, the lack of adequate infrastructure, particularly in residential complexes, remains a significant barrier that deters many from making the switch.
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