Govt to promote e-Vehicles

-    EFR stations will be established at the end of 2019, says CMD of APEPDCL HY Dora 
-    They will be set up on the National Highway in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari districts

Visakhapatnam: Electrical Fast Recharge (EFR) Stations are coming up on the National Highways next year. The state government is chalking out mega plans to establish EFRs to promote local employment also. 

With the government’s strong aim to promote electric power vehicles at a large scale, the Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) has started exercise to establish Electrical Fast Recharge (EFR) Stations at various key junctions in the urban areas of its jurisdiction.

The company has decided to establish the Electrical Fast Recharge Stations in a phased manner. During the first phase, the company is making arrangements to set up 20 Direct Current (DC) EFR Stations on the National Highway in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari districts.

As  part of the best environmental practices, the Central and State governments have been promoting electric vehicles on a large scale.  As a part of the Smart City programme, the consumption of the petroleum products in the urban areas has to be minimised. The NDA government, as a part of promotional activities has been exercising to announce some benefits to the e-Vehicles users across the country. The automobile industry is already started marketing the e-Bicycles, e-Bikes and e-Cars. According to the government survey, the e-Vehicles share 30 per cent of the total sale of petro-based vehicles by 2020.

“It is not that much easy to establish the EFR station like petroleum outlets. There is a big process to establish and several issues have to be addressed. However, observing the future demand on e-Vehicles movements, we have to start the journey to establish the EFRs. There are some policy issues also to be addressed after consulting agencies involved with the sale of power at the stations,” said a senior engineer of APEPDCL. 

According to the government directive, the DISCOMs have been chalking out the plans to establish the EFRs under PPP mode. Selection of strategic locations, investment, land availability and other issues are being discussed at various stages. 

According to sources in the energy department, the government is planning to establish the EFR as a recreation centre for those who go on a long journey. A food court, entertainment to the kids, rest rooms would also be set up at the EFRs. 

“The parking lot is also important for EFRs. Once a car given for recharge, the drivers and others should also get free time to relax at the centre. The EFRs would also generate employment also at the local level,” senior official of Energy Department told The Hans India.

VKL Gayatri