New Delhi: India’s Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, stressed the importance of developing both battery swapping and charging infrastructure to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country. He urged stakeholders to work together to make EV charging a “people’s movement,” according to a PIB press release.
Speaking at a consultation meeting on battery charging and swapping infrastructure, Goyal envisioned a future where all petrol pumps, CNG stations, and similar facilities would be equipped with both charging and swapping options. This, he stated, would address concerns about vandalism and ensure widespread availability of these essential services.
The meeting, co-organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), saw participation from leading automobile, battery, and energy companies. Participants discussed the need for a level playing field with fixed-battery EV manufacturers regarding subsidies and incentives.
Industry stakeholders highlighted the projected growth of the battery swapping sector, estimated to reach USD 20 billion by 2030. They also emphasized the importance of safety standards and accountability, urging the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to establish clear regulations. The industry has technologically advanced, using robotics to replace batteries in 135 seconds.
Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma and DPIIT Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia attended the meeting as well. Senior officials from the Ministries of Power, Environment, Road Transport and Highways, and Heavy Industry participated in the discussions, along with representatives from companies like Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies, SUN Mobility, TVS Motor Company, Gorogo, Ather Energy, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, Hero MotoCorp, and Bajaj Auto. Goyal stressed the need for collaboration between various ministries, including Heavy Industry, Power, Petroleum & Natural Gas, and Housing & Urban Affairs, along with industry representatives to ensure the effective implementation of battery swap stations.