The Ministry of Power has issued Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Battery Swapping and Charging Stations on January 10, 2025 (attached herewith), which were earlier put up for stakeholder consultation on October 4, 2024. These guidelines are the first step in recognising and enabling battery swapping and Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) in the Indian electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem. They are designed to support the needs of EVs equipped with swappable batteries and apply to battery swapping and charging station operators, as well as swappable battery providers, across the country.
Mr. Dilip Chenoy, Advisor, India Battery Swapping Association (IBSA), welcoming the battery swapping guidelines, mentioned that “this is a key step initiated by the Ministry to promote swapping in the country and provides customers with a choice and avenue to reduce ownership and operating costs. Combined with other initiatives, it has the potential to accelerate EV adoption.”
According to India Battery Swapping Association (IBSA) which represents firms that have over 95% of the swappable batteries in operation, there are over 3500 battery swapping stations across India, with over 3,50,000 batteries in circulation accounting for over 7 million e-km daily. Thereby, these guidelines are welcomed as they will not only facilitate the growth of battery swapping as a recognised and viable industry but also elevate the BaaS model.
During the stakeholder consultation, IBSA had highlighted the fact that these guidelines will support the transition to e-mobility in India and in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047. These guidelines are particularly important as a first step towards developing the battery swapping ecosystem, since it not only reduces the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the vehicle but also brings down the initial cost, to be borne during the purchase of the vehicle, for the consumer.
“The Ministry of Power’s recognition of battery swapping as a viable alternative to conventional charging marks a significant step forward in India’s electric mobility journey. These guidelines establish a strong foundation for the EV ecosystem, reinforcing battery swapping’s potential to overcome traditional charging barriers and drive widespread EV adoption. This move aligns with India’s sustainable mobility vision, and we’re optimistic about its impact on accelerating the EV transition”, said Mr. Pulkit Khurana, Co-Founder, Battery Smart. He further added, “At Battery Smart, we’re committed to leading this transformation by building a nationwide swapping network that makes EV ownership accessible and affordable for all.”
Honda Power Pack Energy applauds Ministry of Power new guidelines for battery swapping and charging infrastructure, this would provide the level playing field between battery swapping & fixed charging system. Moreover, this will be a significant step towards building the strong battery swapping ecosystem & accelerating EV adoption in India. Honda has developed reliable Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: & Honda Mobile Power Pack e: for global market and we are committed to support this initiative through a robust battery swapping ecosystem in Indian cities. This will make EV ownership more accessible and convenient, particularly for 2 wheeler and 3 wheeler users, while contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future for India said Mr Takuya Taniguchi, President & CMD.
Mr. Gautham Maheswaran, Co-Founder, RACEnergy mentioned that “These guidelines issued by the Ministry for Battery Swapping Stations are a great start to recognising and proliferating the concept of battery swapping to accelerate adoption of EVs across our country. We look forward to working with the Ministry alongside all stakeholders to establish more such standards focused on battery swapping technology to make EVs safer and affordable for the masses.”
Commending the Ministry of Power’s new guidelines, Mr. Chetan Maini, Co-Founder and Chairman, SUN Mobility said, “We commend the Ministry of Power’s decision to introduce new guidelines for battery swapping and charging station installations. This landmark decision paves the way for a robust EV charging infrastructure by creating a level playing field between battery swapping and fixed charging solutions. As a leader in the battery swapping sector, SUN Mobility is excited about the potential these guidelines unlock for our industry. While it is encouraging to see the Ministry provide parity between battery swapping and fixed charging solutions, we also hope to see this extended to demand incentives, as it is essential for fostering a balanced transition to electric mobility.”
India Battery Swapping Association (IBSA) is committed to work with the government and other stakeholders to take forward the advancement of the battery swapping ecosystem and support the transition to electric mobility in India.
