NEW DELHI: Making the electric vehicle charging ecosystem greener, power discoms have started integrating rooftop solar chargers with them to create hybrid facilities.
Power discom BSES has set up two solar EV charging stations at South Extension-II and Bhikaji Cama Place, while five such facilities are likely to be launched soon. These stations cater to two-, three- and four-wheeled electric vehicles (EV).
According to officials, the rooftop solar powered EV charging stations use renewable energy to charge EVs during daytime, but at night or on a heavily cloudy day the chargers use grid power like any other charging station.
“There are several benefits to installing rooftop solar for EV charging vis-a-vis the grid-based charging network. It reduces the peak power requirement during the daytime. EV charging through renewable sources of electricity further decarbonises the cycle,” said a BSES official.
Officials added that using solar energy to charge EVs significantly reduces the cost of charging. The cost of the solar panels and installation can be offset by savings in energy costs over time. Since solar power is a clean and renewable source of energy, it helps reduce the carbon footprint of charging EVs and is more reliable during power outages or emergency.
The cost of a solar-powered EV station, however, is at least Rs 50,000 per kilowatt more than conventional chargers. “The investments made in this hybrid set-up have an estimated pay-back period of around 7-8 years. After this period, the cost of charging a vehicle will be zero,” said an official.
Power department officials accepted that for private charging setups, the higher installation cost of rooftop solar panels can be a deterrent. The rooftop solar panels require more space and orientation to maximise energy generation, which can also be a constraint in densely populated areas.
“Since EVs and their charging infrastructure are evolving rapidly, older rooftop solar-enabled charging stations can also lead to compatibility issues. But despite all these challenges, rooftop solar-enabled EV charging stations have significant potential to accelerate the adoption of EVs while reducing carbon emissions and energy costs,” said a senior government official.
“As technology evolves and becomes more affordable, we can expect to see widespread adoption of this innovative solution,” they added.
With the increase in sales of electric vehicles, the government is also making efforts to strengthen its charging ecosystem. As per the EV report for 2022, Delhi has over 2,300 charging points and 200-plus battery swapping stations running in different parts of the city. EVs contributed close to 15% of overall vehicle sales in March this year. EV sales in the capital saw an increase of 141% in 2022 compared to 2021. The government’s goal is to achieve 30% EV penetration by 2030.
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