Lok Sabha Question No. 531 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Adoption of Battery Swapping Technology
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Shri Anurag Singh Thakur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.531 ANSWERED ON 06.02.2025

## ADOPTION OF BATTERY SWAPPING TECHNOLOGY

531.   SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the measures taken/being taken by the Government to ensure uniform implementation of the 2024 Battery Swapping Guidelines across the country including collaboration with State Governments;
- (b) the  strategy  framed  by  the  Government  to  ensure  equitable  distribution  of battery swapping stations in both urban and rural areas;
- (c) the  manner  in  which  the  public-private  partnerships  being  leveraged  to establish and expand battery-swapping infrastructure across the country;
- (d) the details of the specific incentives or subsidies being planned to encourage the  adoption  of  battery-swapping  technology  by  small  businesses  and  logistic operators;
- (e) the  manner  in  which  the  Government  plan  to  address  challenges  related  to interoperability of battery-swapping systems and standardization of technology; and
- (f) whether there are any mechanisms for periodic review and monitoring of the environmental impact of battery-swapping infrastructure deployment and if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

(a) & (b): The  Ministry  of  Power  has  issued  'Guidelines  for  Installation  and Operation of Battery Swapping and Charging Stations', vide OM dated 10 th  January 2025. These guidelines outline the standards and protocols to facilitate development of a nationwide network of Battery Swapping Stations (BSS). Key features involving State Governments in implementing these guidelines are:-

- (i) A  State  level  Steering  Committee  chaired  by  Secretary  in-charge  of  Energy, comprising Secretaries of Transport, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, and other relevant officials, will plan and monitor the implementation of BSS Infrastructure at the State level.
- (ii) Each  state  will  designate  a  State  Nodal  Agency  (SNA)  responsible  for coordinating with DISCOMs and the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) to facilitate electricity connections for BSS.

(iii) A Central Steering Committee chaired by the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power including Members from relevant Ministries, State representative, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), and the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) will periodically review the implementation of the guidelines. (iv) BEE will work collaboratively with DISCOMs and State Government entities for implementation of the guidelines. (c) & (d) : The guidelines emphasize the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in  expanding  the  battery  swapping  infrastructure.    Setting  up  BSS  has  been designated as a de-licensed activity, simplifying the process for businesses. To  make  the  land  available  at  affordable  rates,  it  has  been  suggested  that public land be made available to Government or Public entities on a revenue-sharing model at ₹ 1 per kWh.  For private entities, the land may be made available through a competitive  bidding  process  at  a  floor  price  of  ₹  1  per  kWh.  Additionally,  public tenders involving Government  land  for the establishment  of  BSS  have  been suggested to be kept technology agnostic. State Governments have been advised to permit round-the-clock operations for BSS. Further, tariff for supply of electricity to BSS has been simplified.  It has been advised to make tariff  single  part  and  limited  to  'Average  Cost  of  Supply'  till  31 st March, 2028. (e): At present the battery swapping is evolving and full interoperability among all Electric Vehicle (EV) users is not envisaged. (f): To  address  and  mitigate  the  environmental  impacts  caused  by  disposal  of waste batteries generated by producers of batteries, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) vide notification dated 22.08.2022 notified the Battery Waste  Management  Rules,  2022  for  environmentally  sound  management  of  waste batteries. Under  the  Rules,  producers  have  been  given  the  obligations  of  Extended Producer Responsibility for the batteries that they introduce in the market to ensure effective  collection  and  recycling/  refurbishment  of  waste  batteries.    Further,  the entities  involved  in  collection,  segregation  and  treatment  have  been  obligated  to hand over the waste batteries to the registered recycler or refurbisher.

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