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'Need more subsidies for fast chargers’: Mohan Raj of Tucker Motors

With oil marketing companies commissioning installation of slow AC chargers at various fuel pump locations, charging infrastructure player Tucker Motors suggests more subsidies for DC fast chargers.

With the government policy around EVs and charging infrastructure varying from state to state, there is need for more subsidies for DC fast chargers, to drive their adoption in the country. According to Mohan Raj, Managing Director, Tucker Motors, “The government policy with respect to EV charging infrastructure varies from state to state, and must become centralised. While we see good penetration of fast chargers in Kerala and Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, for instance, is far behind.”

Raj, who was speaking at the Autocar Professional InnerCircle in Bengaluru on February 20, also pointed out that oil marketing companies of the likes of Indian Oil Corporation are heading in the wrong direction by floating most of its tenders for installation of slow-speed AC chargers at its fuel pump locations across the country. “I think this is a wrong move as most EV owners will not want to wait for long hours at the fuel stations with minimum amenities to charge their cars. This is an impediment, and the government must give more subsidies specifically to fast chargers to give a fillip to the infrastructure growth rate” he said.

Raj further cautioned that the prices of EV chargers are on the higher side, given the high import content, which, at present, stands at over 50 percent. “Most of the components are being imported from China, and the government must promote local R&D to bring down the prices of EV chargers

At Tucker Motors, we have been deeply engaged in the R&D of our products over the last five years, and are self-reliant in power electronics, software, and other aspects of the chargers. The high level of localisation has enabled us to be extremely competitive compared to other brands,” he said

The latest phase of the program is designed to encourage and incentivize small businesses, non-profits, transportation companies, MUDs, and municipal/state public facilities to invest in Level 2 charging stations.