The push for electric vehicle adoption in India may have just got an adrenaline boost as Tata Power, one of India’s largest integrated power utility company and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL), a Navratna Oil and Gas Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently, for setting up commercial-scale charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) at the HPCL retail outlets and other locations across India.

As per the MoU, Tata Power and HPCL have agreed to collaborate in planning, development and operation of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (e-cars, e-rickshaws, e-bikes and e-buses among others), at suitable locations across India. Both the companies also intend to additionally explore areas of opportunities and collaborate in related fields like renewable energy.

Praveer Sinha, CEO and managing director, Tata Power, said, “We are delighted to announce our partnership with HPCL. It is a significant move towards expanding our services to our customers beyond conventional boundaries. By servicing electric vehicles through the proposed charging stations across India, Tata Power will be playing a crucial role in enabling a stronger penetration of EVs in the country. Thus fulfilling our commitment to power India’s future in an environmentally sustainable way.”

Rahul Shah, chief-strategy – New Business Services, Business Excellence, Tata Power, said, “Tata Power has been the front runner to propagate the change towards sustainable energy. We aim to continuously grow our EV charging infrastructure footprints by installing charging stations at strategic locations. Our association with HPCL will help us to scale our EV infrastructure at the national level as well as provide our customers with world-class services”.

Rajnish Mehta, executive director, Corporate Strategy Planning and Business Development, HPCL said, “At HPCL, we are a firm believer in business diversification and being future ready. A major impediment to electric vehicles adoption is the range anxiety which needs to be addressed through establishment of nationwide charging infrastructure. We believe that a robust network of charging stations is very critical for market acceptability of EVs which will also ensure last mile connectivity and thereby facilitate widespread adoption of EVs."

"Tata Power with its focussed approach towards sustainable and clean energy and wider outreach across the power value chain, provides an excellent opportunity for an integrated Oil and Gas company like HPCL to collaborate for promoting the e-mobility initiative. We intend to leverage on our vast marketing infrastructure network in the form of retail outlets and other locations for setting up of electric vehicle charging stations on pan India basis,” concluded Mehta.

Also read: ‘Tata Power is not getting any incentive from the government for setting up EV charging stations.’

Magenta Power sets up EV charging station on the Mumbai-Pune expressway

India’s first commercial solar-powered EV charger installed in Mumbai

Audi: Charge your EVs in less than 12 minutes from 2020