Current Affairs

Issue

A draft battery swapping policy has been prepared by Government policy think-tank Niti Aayog.

 

Background

The proposal includes incentivizing electric vehicles (EVs) with swappable batteries and extending subsidies to companies manufacturing swappable batteries.

 

Details

• The battery swap policy is said to reduce upfront costs of purchasing EVs and drive adoption among buyers. 

• The policy has been primarily focused for battery swapping systems used in electric scooters and three-wheeler electric rickshaws. 

 

Battery swapping

• Battery swapping process involves exchanging discharged batteries for charged ones. 

• This allows the vehicle to be operational continuously without waiting for recharging process.

• Currently, the process is being used for smaller electric vehicles such as bikes and e-rickshaws as swapping batteries of four wheelers and buses is complicated.

 

Key proposals

• GST council should consider reducing tax rates on Lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicle supply equipment. 

• The policy aims to provide same incentives of vehicle with fixed batteries to those with swappable batteries.

• Signing of contacts between EV users and battery providers to ensure they continue to provide battery swapping services after subsidy is received.

 

Infrastructure

• State governments should allow setting up public battery charging stations at various locations with concessions on tariffs.

• State transport department should ensure registration processes for vehicles sold without batteries or for vehicles with battery swapping functionality.

• To track and monitor swappable batteries, a unique identification number (UIN) should be assigned to the batteries.

 

Challenges for swapping model

• There should be interoperability between EVs and batteries

• Tracking health and performance of batteries to prevent fire incidents

 

Safety of EVs

• A rigorous testing protocol will be adopted to ensure a high level of protection at the electrical interface.

• A certified battery management system has to be checked and adopted to monitor batter function.

 

Adoption

• The policy will first be implemented in all metropolitan cities with a population of more than 40 lakh in the first phase.

• In the second phase, state capitals with a population greater than 5 lakh will be covered.