ITDP India MD Aswathy Dilip Says New EV Charging Guidelines Give Right Push to Strengthen Ecosystem
Chennai: In a major push towards electric mobility, Tamil Nadu has unveiled India’s first state-level guidelines for public EV charging infrastructure, setting the stage for faster adoption of electric vehicles and supporting the national target of 30% electrification by 2030.
The framework, developed by the industries department, Guidance Tamil Nadu, TN Green Energy Corporation Ltd (TNGECL), Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (TNPDCL), and ITDP India, seeks to standardise charging infrastructure, streamline approvals, and encourage renewable-powered charging systems to minimise grid stress.
“Setting up EV charging infrastructure is tricky because it involves multiple agencies. To simplify who does what and how, guidelines are the way forward,” said Sivasubramaniam Jayaraman, Deputy Director at ITDP India.
Pilot Rollout in Six Cities
The initiative will first be implemented in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchy, and Tirunelveli, with TNGECL acting as the nodal agency for scaling up.
Despite being a leader in EV manufacturing, Tamil Nadu’s EV adoption rate stands at 6.59%, slightly below the national average of 7.42%. “With the creation of these guidelines, the ecosystem will get a push in the right direction,” said Aswathy Dilip, Managing Director, ITDP India.
Currently, the state has one charging station for every 316 EVs, underscoring the urgent need for infrastructure expansion.
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Key Features of the Guidelines
- Consolidation of central norms and standards for EV charging.
- Tools for cities to assess demand and identify suitable sites.
- Public-private partnership models with cost structures.
- Technical and safety benchmarks to ensure chargers are reliable, accessible, and user-friendly.
- Chief Minister M.K. Stalin officially launched the Tamil Nadu Public Charging Infrastructure Guidelines at the Hosur Investment Conclave.
Two supporting reports were also released: a status report on the existing charging network with recommendations and a pocket version of the guidelines in English and Tamil for easy reference.Tamil Nadu’s pioneering step is expected to set a benchmark for other states, aligning EV infrastructure with India’s broader green mobility goals.
