CESC mulls setting up e-charging stations to check emissions

Kolkata: Power utility CESC Limited is evaluating business model on e-charging stations network in its distribution area in the wake of the government's emphasis on electric vehicles to control emissions.

"We are evaluating business model for e-charging station network in our distribution area," CESC managing director (distribution) Debasish Banerjee said on Thursday on the sidelines of a regional dialogue — 'Preparing for the Future of Urban Mobility' at the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He made it clear that the project is at a nascent stage and the issues of viability is being examined. CESC had already held talks with the state government with the objective of exploring places for setting up these e-charging stations. If found viable, then a project of about 150 e-charging stations could be implented based on the license area of 567 kms of CESC covering Kolkata and part of Howrah districts.

It may be mentioned that the Union ministry of Power had written to utilities to consider setting up electric vehicle charging stations. "A meeting in this regard was held in Delhi in September where all states including Bengal mentioned about their plans in this regard," The Energy and Research Institute (TERI) chairman Ajay Mathur said.

According to a senior CESC official, a lot of issues need to be evaluated that include commercial viability, ensuring power round the clock, finding suitable locations for such recharging stations.

Later speaking to reporters, Mathur said out of 11 states who are offered electric buses, five states had opted for service model price which is less than Rs 60 per kilometre. This is the price that is to be paid by state transport departments to the operators for CNG buses," he added.

He, however, maintained that success would depend on e-charging station infrastructure and supply constraints.