No License required for EV charging infrastructure

New Delhi: The Ministry of Power has issued a clarification stating that no license is required to operate electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in India. Companies who are setting up charging infrastructure for electric vehicles do not require any separate license for electricity transmission, distribution or trading.

Under Electricity Act 2003, Section 12 no person shall transmit electricity; or distribute electricity; or undertake trading in electricity without license from the Ministry of Power. EV charging station involves utilisation of electrical energy for conversion of AC to DC which will be stored in battery for usage of consumer[M1] ¹ so it will not come under Section 12[M2] ²

¹ "Consumer" means any person who is supplied with electricity for his own use by a licensee or the Government or by any other person engaged in the business of supplying electricity to the public under this Act or any other law for the time being in force and includes any person whose premises are for the time being connected for the purpose of receiving electricity with the works of a licensee, the Government or such other person, as the case may be.

² [M2] Section 12. (Authorized persons to transmit, supply, etc., electricity): No person shall (a) transmit electricity; or (b) distribute electricity; or (c) undertake trading in electricity, unless he is authorized to do so by a license issued under section 14, or is exempt under section 13.