India’s leading automotive firm, Tata Power has decided to add at least 100 more electric vehicle (EV) chargers in Goa in the coming year.
It also aims to install charging stations along all national highways that connect to Goa to facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles.
The company is working with the state government to help it with the thrust on green energy.
Speaking on the subject, Chief Executive Officer and managing director of Tata Power, Praveer Sinha, said that the firm sees Goa as a strong market for EV and green energy adoption. “We already have 50 EV chargers operational, and nine more will become operational possibly this month,” said Sinha. “Apart from that, we have plans to add at least 100 more in Goa in the coming year, and we will also have chargers on the highways from here to Mumbai, Pune, and Karwar.”
In December 2021, the state government launched the Goa Electric Vehicle (EV) Concessional Charging Infrastructure Policy to install charging stations at 50 locations initially identified by the state government.
The state appointed the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) as the authority to issue permissions for installing charging stations on public and private properties.
Asked about the locations of the proposed EV charging stations, Sinha said that they could be set up at fuel bunkers, railway stations, shopping malls, commercial buildings, resorts, and any major parking lots where ample parking space is available.
He said that the main aim was to have EV charging stations along all highways that connect to Goa.
The adoption of electric vehicles picked up in the state after Goa and the Centre introduced incentives.
Tata Power has completed a “desktop projection” on how Goa can pursue its green energy targets. Sinha described it as preliminary estimates that need to be discussed with the state’s electricity department and GEDA.
Last December, GEDA invited bids for 40 EV charging stations in Goa under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric vehicles (FAME II).
Tata Power has worked with the Goa electricity department on the distribution technology, software billing, computerization of the electricity department’s 248 division and sub-division offices, the data centre for the power department in Goa as well as the backup data centre at Hyderabad, and the online bill payment application.
