Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has been grabbing the headlines on India’s electric-mobility front of late. In July 2019, it signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Noida Authority to install 100 EV (electric vehicle) charging stations across the city. Earlier this month, the state-run energy provider inked an agreement with MahaMetro to set up similar facilities in Nagpur. Now, the company has, for the first time, partnered with a private player to install EV charging stations. Which player? Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited.

It is a 10-year agreement that has been signed between the two parties. According to the MoU, EESL will install EV charging stations in all Apollo Hospitals across the country. While the Indian hospital chain will create space and provide power connections for charging stations, EESL will install, operate and maintain these facilities. Details about how many EV charging points will be put up and what will be their specifications are not available at the moment.

Here’s what Venkatesh Dwivedi, who is the director at EESL, said about this development:

Developing a strong supporting infrastructure is vital to build consumer confidence in EVs. Our MoU with Apollo Hospitals reinforces the role of the private sector in achieving the goal of National Electric Mobility Programme. Electric mobility is vital to reducing airborne emissions and enhancing air quality, a cause the healthcare sector can resonate with.

A lot is happening to support the cause of zero-emissions vehicles on a national level. One of the biggest developments was the reduction in GST on EVs, which were taken out of the 12 per cent slab and placed in the 5 per cent one. Because of that, pure-electric cars such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Mahindra eVerito received substantial price cuts.

Source: PTI