A Study on Cost-Effective Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in India Through Open Access Power Procurement

Electric vehicles (EV) are considered as an alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles to address concerns over greenhouse gas emissions and overseas dependence on crude oil. If we consider 100% replacement of two-wheeler (2 W), three-wheeler (3 W), four-wheeler (4 W) and bus segment in India by 2030 with EVs, electricity requirement is 868.50 billion units, representing 34.63% of the then total generation, which can be met from renewable energy (RE) generation. Even though India has vast potential for RE power generation, presently it is limited to certain states. This study proposes a model in which electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) on an aggregate are accorded high-tension industrial status, allowing them to purchase electricity under open access (OA). Among analyzed states, West Bengal imposes the highest OA charges amounting to 6.02 Rs/kWh and 4.82 Rs/kWh under long-term open access (LTOA) and short-term open access (STOA) for non-captive RE power procurement. Chhattisgarh does not impose any OA charges for LTOA and STOA power procurement for captive RE. Breakeven tariff (BET) is defined to analyze the commercial viability of power purchase through OA. Haryana has the highest BET of 6.82 Rs/kWh for captive as well as non-captive RE power procurement under LTOA and STOA. The least BET for LTOA and STOA is 0.42 Rs/kWh and 1.62 Rs/kWh, respectively, obtained for West Bengal on non-captive RE power procurement. The study reveals that procurement of power from captive RE power generators under STOA is the best possible business opportunity for EVCSs.