Tamil Nadu plans 20,000 EV charging stations by 2031

Tamil Nadu has accelerated plans to develop electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, targeting the establishment of 20,000 public EV charging stations by 2031 under its ‘Vetri Thamizhagam’ vision.

The initiative is aimed at increasing EV adoption, attracting private investment, reducing the cost of setting up charging stations and creating world-class charging infrastructure across the state.

According to a release issued by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB), a high-level review meeting chaired by the chief secretary was held on July 13 to assess the current status of public EV charging stations.

This was followed by a high-level technical committee meeting on Tuesday chaired by TNPDCL Chairman and Managing Director J Radhakrishnan, with representatives from ITDP India and Guidance Tamil Nadu also participating.

The committee decided to permit the installation of EV sub-meters for charging facilities within the sanctioned load of existing High Tension (HT) and Extra High Tension (EHT) electricity connections. Consumers will not need a separate electricity service connection and will be exempt from fixed or minimum monthly demand charges, paying only energy charges under the EV tariff based on actual electricity consumption.

The new system is expected to help industries, commercial establishments, educational institutions, hospitals, residential complexes and other organisations set up EV charging stations more quickly and with lower investment, without creating additional power infrastructure.

The committee also decided that consumers seeking a separate electricity connection exclusively for EV charging stations would be allowed to obtain a new service connection without affecting their existing sanctioned load or tariff category.

It further resolved to recommend amendments to the Tamil Nadu Electric Vehicle Policy, 2023, including waiving or substantially reducing fixed or minimum monthly demand charges under the separate EV tariff category to encourage greater private investment and help the state achieve its target of 20,000 public EV charging stations by 2031.