WBSEDCL Floats Tender 205 EV Charging, Battery Swapping Stations

A public-private partnership (PPP) is being sought by the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (WBSEDCL) to build EV charging stations to increase e-mobility in the region, an official announced recently. According to him, 205 charging or battery-swapping stations for various car types are being built by the state-run utility, which is looking for bids from interested operators. The stations will be constructed on WBSEDCL’s property, but they will be managed by operators who will offer a percentage of the profits, according to the state nodal body for creating the infrastructure for EV charging.

During an interview, an official member stated, “We will offer the land necessary for the installation of 205 EV charging and switching stations in our sub-stations as part of this portion of the agreement. Private concessionaires will invest and handle the operation and maintenance. INR 1 per unit of energy is the minimum revenue sharing floor price for the auction.”

“The contract for a particular site will be given to the bidder with the highest revenue share. He added that 165 of the 205 stations will be built elsewhere and that 40 of the 205 stations will be located along national highways. The original contract time will be for 10 years, with possible extension conditions,” he added further.

The West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC), the state’s electricity sector regulator, has established a cost of Rs 6.98 per unit for EV charging stations all year long. The state of West Bengal has set a goal of one million electric vehicles by 2030 and aspires to rank among the top states in terms of electric mobility penetration.

10,000 EV charging or battery-swapping stations are planned for the state by the government. According to a corporate spokesperson, some owners of charging stations have already expressed interest in taking part in the bidding process.

The adoption of e-vehicles in the two-wheeler and four-wheeler segments is also aided by programs run by the federal government. At bus depots in the city, other state agencies are putting in EV charging stations. 30 charging stations have been established by the New Town administration on the outskirts of Kolkata, and more are being built for buses and private automobiles.