Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has urged the integration of battery swapping facilities alongside charging infrastructure to accelerate India’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs). Speaking at a consultation meeting on Friday, Goyal highlighted the need for a comprehensive, nationwide approach to EV infrastructure, positioning it as a “people’s movement.”
The meeting, jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), focused on strategies to build robust charging and battery-swapping facilities across the country.
“All petrol pumps, CNG stations, and similar locations should incorporate battery swapping and charging solutions,” Goyal said, emphasising that such measures could address issues like vandalism and ensure balanced infrastructure development across urban and rural areas.
Prominent representatives from the EV and battery sectors, including Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies, SUN Mobility, Ather Energy, Mahindra & Mahindra, TVS Motor Company, Hero MotoCorp, and Bajaj Auto, participated in the session. Industry leaders projected significant growth for the battery-swapping market, which is expected to reach $20 billion by 2030.
During the discussions, stakeholders advocated for equal subsidies and incentives for battery-swapping EVs to create a level playing field with fixed-battery EV manufacturers. Technological advancements in battery swapping also featured prominently, with innovations like robotics capable of replacing batteries in just 135 seconds being showcased as examples of the sector’s efficiency potential.
While optimistic about the future, industry leaders underscored the need for stringent safety measures. They called for clear standards and accountability frameworks from authorities such as the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to build trust and ensure user safety.
Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel, Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, along with senior officials from various ministries, also attended the meeting, reinforcing the government’s commitment to fostering a sustainable EV ecosystem.
Goyal concluded by reiterating that the development of EV infrastructure must transcend policy mandates to become a collaborative effort involving both industry players and the public.
