Helsinki-based clean energy company Fortum has announced timely and invigorating news for electric mobility expansion and the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure — across the vast country of India. India has only about 6,000 electric cars, but it is looking to swiftly move forward and actually aims to be the first fully electric car nation. The goal is to have only electric vehicles on the market by 2030. Whether you think the target is viable or not, there must be immediate opportunities for EV infrastructure leaders.
Fortum Charge & Drive has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NBCC, a blue-chip Government of India Navratna Enterprise under the Ministry of Urban Development. The MoU commits to the development of charging infrastructure in the country. The Fortum and NBCC infrastructure agreement will cover all significant activities in the value chain: Planning, designing, investment, and operation of the charging infrastructure using a cloud-based system.
Fortum has installed one 22 KW AC charger as a pilot in NBCC premises in New Delhi, which shall be operated using Fortum’s cloud-based system. The charging station was inaugurated by Finland’s Minister for Housing, Energy and the Environment, Mr. Kimmo Tiilikainen, in the presence of Dr. Anoop Kumar Mittal, Chairman cum Managing Director, NBCC.
Fortum has ventured in India, making it the first country outside Europe in the Charge & Drive space. The plans include developing charging infrastructure along with the cloud-based system (SAAS). Starting with this pilot in New Delhi, Charge & Drive plan to roll out more than 150 charging stations over a period of next 12–18 months.