Mumbai: BMC wakes up, to draft regulation for charging electric vehicles

An EV charging station at the BMC headquarters

In view of incidents of electric scooters catching fire during charging, the BMC has decided to set up a special committee to draft fire safety norms for charging stations. The committee will comprise BMC, BEST, and fire brigade officials. The decision was taken during Deputy Municipal Commissioner Sunil Godse's review meeting on the electric vehicle project on Wednesday.

The BMC is in the process of increasing the number of charging stations. As of now, the BMC has installed EV charging stations at 6 places and BEST also has 6 charging stations in various depots," Godse said.

An EV charging station outside CSMT station. File pic

A civic official said that there is a need for nearly 1,500 EV charging stations in Mumbai. The BMC is planning to set up 28 charging stations in various places like civic hospitals, ward offices. BEST, too, is in the process to set up 55 new charging stations.

"We are thinking that these charging stations can be made open for the citizens to charge their vehicles," Godse stated further.

Currently, the BMC has 6 EVs while BEST has 386 electric buses in its fleet. As per the state government's order, BMC can only use EVs from now on.

"There are 966 cars in the BMC fleet in addition to over 500 heavy vehicles like buses and dumpers. Recently, the civic body purchased 2 EV mechanical sweeping machines and is awaiting RTO norms for the same. If we convert our fleet to EVs, BMC will need 1,500 charging stations," said a civic official.

The BEST has issued a purchase order for 900 EV buses. "As per plan, BEST will have 1,900 EVS by 2023 and all buses will be electric ones by 2028," said a BEST official.

BMC' proposal

The BMC will also propose that the state government allow installation of charging points in new buildings which will be at least 20 per cent of the parking capacity.

"If the state government accepts our proposal, we will amend the development control rule. We can think of giving incentives to the builder to increase the number of charging stations," said a civic official.

1,900
Number of electric vehicles BEST will have by 2023