New Delhi: In a significant headway towards green commuting, the Delhi-Chandigarh highway has become the first e-vehicle (EV) friendly highway in the country, with a network of solar-based Electric Vehicle Charging stations (SEVCs) set up by the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) under the FAME-1 (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) & Electric Vehicles in India) scheme of the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

The state-of-the-art charging station at Karna Lake Resort, Karnal, Haryana, was inaugurated virtually by Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union Minister of Heavy Industries, in the presence of Arun Goel, Secretary, MHI. Dr Nalin Shinghal, Chairman and Managing Director, BHEL, and other dignitaries.

Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on the country’s 75th Independence Day, Dr Pandey said: “The PM has clearly highlighted that environment security has the same importance as national security and that India is making all efforts towards becoming energy independent.”

India is a vibrant voice of environment security which comprises climate change, energy conservation, clean energy transition efforts, etc., and the nation’s efforts in the environment have started giving desired results. This is an important step in the direction of achieving the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, he added.

The EV charging station at Karnal lake resort is strategically located at the midpoint of Delhi-Chandigarh highway, and is equipped to cater to all types of E-cars plying currently in the country. Further, the company is also working on upgrading the other charging stations on this highway, within this year.

The establishment of similar EV chargers at regular intervals of 25-30 km on the highway will allay range-anxiety among electric vehicle users and bolster their confidence for inter-city travel. The SEVC stations are equipped with individual grid-connected rooftop solar plants that will supply green and clean energy to the charging stations. /BI/