BPCL Launches EV Fast-charging Highway Corridor On Delhi-Jalandhar Highway

The 750-km-long segment of NH-44 is the fourth such electric vehicle fast-charging corridor in the country with a fast charging station at roughly every 100 km on both sides of the highway. Chennai-Trichy-Madurai, Chennai-Bangalore and Bangalore-Coorg were the first three electric vehicle fast-charging corridors set up by BPCL.

The EV fast chargers at BPCL fuel stations will help customers recharge their EVs in just about 30 minutes to get a driving range of up to 125 kilometres after which there will be another BPCL EV charging station for EV owners going further ahead, a BPCL statement said.

All EV customers will be able to use the EV fast charging stations via a pay-per-use online service and access these points without

any manual assistance, though support staff will be at hand when needed.

Located at BPCL retail outlets, these EV fast-charging stations offer long-distance and inter-city travellers much-needed safe, well-lit and secure pit stops together with amenities like clean and hygienic washrooms toilets, mATMs etc for their convenience while their vehicle is being recharged, the company statement said further.

BPCL has digitised the entire EV charger locator, charger operations and transaction process through the HelloBPCL app for an online and transparent user experience.

The company plans 200 such electric vehicle fast-charging corridor under the brand eDrive. These will be set up along key national highways by 31 March 2023 as part of the drive to support and accelerate EV adoption in India.

BPCL also announced the launch of the Integrated Customer Program with MG Motors, a British automotive brand, which has so far sold 8,900 electric vehicles in the country which will enable all MG’s EV customers while driving to locate BPCL EV charging stations through their car dashboards and fast charge their electric vehicles with specific benefits accorded to MG EV owners at all BPCL EV charging stations across the country.

Speaking at the launch, Subhankar Sen, head retail initiatives and brand, BPCL, said “…we are playing our part by setting up the network of electric vehicle fast charging highway corridors to address the range, discovery and time anxieties of EV owners which we firmly believe will hasten the adoption of electric vehicles in the country."

Together with MG Motor India, we will be working to improve the EV charging experience along key travel arteries connecting cities, tourist destinations and economic centres in the country, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Gaurav Gupta, CCO, MG Motor India said, “We intend to establish a holistic ecosystem in India to accelerate EV adoption, and the new chargers at the BPCL fuel stations will provide the necessary impetus for people to switch to electric mobility."