Govt to form EV battery-swapping policy for 2- and 3-wheelers; mulls common charging protocol

A lot of vehicle buyers avoid purchasing electric vehicles as their batteries take a long time to recharge. Since the EV infrastructure in many parts of India is still a distant dream, there are not many takers for EVs in Tier-2 cities and small towns.

However, it can soon be a thing of the past, as the government is working on the battery swap arrangement for two- and three-wheelers.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Niti Ayog, National Test House, the Bureau of Indian Standards, EV manufacturers, and other stakeholders are scheduled to discuss the strategy for battery charging and swapping.

In the meeting, discussions around the dimensions of EV batteries will also be held.

At present, companies produce batteries in many variants.

The problem with battery swapping is that batteries produced by one company may not fit into the kits of EVs produced by another company.

It has been learned that the government and stakeholders are trying to agree on common variants of batteries for 2- and 3-wheelers.

The same problem goes for battery charging as well.

Unlike mobile devices, where the C-type charger has become a common variant for most Android mobiles, EV charger types and charging station points have different shapes and designs.

The government is also contemplating a common protocol for EV charging.

EVs are gaining popularity across the world as they are seen as great options for a pollution-free world.