Indian Oil Corporation launches first electric vehicle battery-swapping station in Calcutta
Notable because
As states continue to introduce time-of-day tariffs for EV charging, charging costs during peak hours are expected to increase. Battery swapping provides an opportunity to utilise the lower tariffs for charging during the off-peak hours while simultaneously reducing the added burden on the grid caused by EV charging during peak hours. Furthermore, these EV batteries can also act as energy storage, which is in line with CEA’s recommendations on the vehicle-to-grid concept.
What to look out for in the months ahead
The Ministry of Road, Transport, and Highways recently highlighted its intention to formalise the draft battery-swapping policy released in 2022. However, the industry’s concerns regarding the standardisation of battery technologies and interoperability remain. What steps will be taken to bridge these gaps and further the battery-swapping business model?