Union Minister Piyush Goyal advocates for battery swapping to boost EV adoption in India

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, has called for the integration of battery swapping facilities with charging infrastructure to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in India. Speaking at a consultation meeting on “Development of Battery Charging and Swapping Infrastructure,” co-organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), he stressed that the transition to EVs must become a “people’s movement.”

The meeting brought together key stakeholders from the automobile, battery manufacturing, charging, and swapping sectors. Notable attendees included Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel, Shri Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, DPIIT Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia, and senior officials from the Ministries of Power, Environment, Road Transport, and Heavy Industry. Industry leaders from companies such as Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies, SUN Mobility, TVS Motor Company, Ather Energy, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, Hero MotoCorp, and Bajaj Auto were also present.

Key Highlights from the Meeting

Growth Projections: Industry representatives noted that the battery swapping sector is expected to grow to USD 20 billion by 2030.

Technology Advancements: Innovations like robotic systems enabling battery swaps in just 135 seconds were highlighted.

Level Playing Field: Stakeholders emphasized the need for equitable subsidies and incentives for battery swapping solutions alongside fixed-battery EVs.

Safety and Standards: Concerns regarding safety prompted calls for accountability and standardized regulations, potentially led by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

Shri Goyal proposed equipping all petrol pumps, CNG stations, and similar facilities with battery swapping and charging infrastructure. This initiative, he stated, would ensure the widespread availability of services while addressing issues like vandalism and uneven infrastructure distribution.

The Minister urged collaborative efforts among various ministries, including Heavy Industry, Power, Petroleum & Natural Gas, and Housing & Urban Affairs, alongside industry representatives, to implement battery swapping stations effectively. Such measures, he envisioned, would bolster the country’s EV ecosystem and support India’s sustainable energy goals.