Bridgestone and Tata Power’s EV pioneering effort is worth emulating

The number of EV (electric Vehicles) users in India is growing by the day. For instance, in the first eight months of this year, around 53,206 passenger EVs were sold in India, showing a whopping 132 per cent increase over the same period in 2022. With such high volume and degree of EV adoption, the demand for proper charging infrastructure across the country’s length and breadth is also growing rapidly. Significantly, the Union government hopes that EVs account for 30 per cent of new private vehicle registrations, amounting to eight crore by 2030. To support this phenomenal rise in EV adoption, India will need 39 lakh public and semi-public charging stations, for a ratio of one station per 20 vehicles. The current ratio-approximately one charging station per 135 EVs-is significantly lower than the global ratio of one per 6 to 20 EVs; this shortage in charging stations could push India to be 40 per cent behind its @30 Vision. As a measure of addressing this, the government has implemented a series of policies and incentives related to EV charging infrastructure, which affects all stakeholders in the EV ecosystem. However, the government-be it at the state level or at the Centre, alone cannot bridge the gap.

Now, a leading tyre maker and a leading power company have risen to the occasion. Bridgestone India and Tata Power, one of the leading EV charging companies in India, with a presence in several cities, have come together to install EV chargers for four-wheelers at Bridgestone dealerships on a pan-India basis. These chargers will be operational on a 24x7 basis. Tata Power is installing DC fast chargers of capacity 25/30 Kwh that are capable of charging a four-wheeler within one hour allowing between 20-24 vehicles being charged in a day. The first of these was inaugurated at Bridgestone’s Select Store Super Tyres at Shirur on the Pune-Ahmednagar road and is operational for all four-wheeler EVs. The Bridgestone Tata joint initiative will certainly give a boost to India’s plans for a national network of EV charging stations aimed at encouraging a higher adoption of EVs.

It should be noted that the electric revolution is changing the automotive landscape and in India, a phenomenal growth is seen in the demand for passenger EVs. These chargers will be accessible to Bridgestone customers and all EV owners. The installation and charging support along with 24x7 service, maintenance support, remote vehicle charging monitoring and e-payments through the EZ charge mobile application will be provided by Tata Power. Tata Power EV Charging mobile app will provide EV owners the convenience of locating charging stations on aerial map, getting updates on charging, recommendations on paying charges online. Charging status including Units consumed & Time elapsed etc. can be seen on EV charging mobile App. Hopefully, the pioneering effort of Bridgestone and Tata Power will be taken forward by other payers in the segment, much to the delight of the EV manufacturers and users.