The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) has announced plans to partner with local civic bodies to establish Common Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations across the state. TNEB officials approached the Greater Chennai Corporation and other local authorities to discuss the proposal. Under the plan, Chennai may host around 100 charging stations, while each municipal corporation, municipality and panchayat could receive five to ten charging stations based on local requirements. Users will be charged a fee to access the facilities.
Several private and corporate companies have expressed interest in setting up charging stations and TNEB will support them in land identification and uninterrupted electricity supply. A senior TNEB official suggested that shopping malls, theatres and other commercial spaces install charging points on their premises to make charging more convenient for electric vehicle users. By involving private partners, TNEB aims to speed up the expansion of the charging network and meet the growing demand for electric vehicles.
Currently, Tamil Nadu has 472 public charging stations across Chennai, Kancheepuram, Coimbatore, Erode, Madurai, Tiruchy, Tirunelveli, Vellore and Villupuram according to the official. However, with electric vehicle numbers rising steadily, the existing stations are considered insufficient. The union government has directed power distribution companies to establish one charging station every 25 km along national highways and every 3 km within city limits. Based on these guidelines, TNEB plans to facilitate new Common Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations across the state.
