BPCL and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility to install 7,000 EV chargers

The second largest Indian Oil Marketing Company, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), which is a Fortune Global 500 and a fully integrated Maharatna energy company, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. (TPEM). The company plans to deploy 7,000 electric vehicle charging stations by next year.

This collaboration aims to establish public charging stations across India, capitalizing on BPCL’s extensive network of fuel stations and TPEM’s expertise gained from the presence of over 1.15 lakh Tata electric vehicles (EVs) on Indian roads. The partnership will focus on strategically locating chargers at places frequently visited by Tata EV owners. Additionally, BPCL will analyze charger usage data to enhance the overall customer experience.

TPEM and BPCL’s partnership aims to enhance the EV ownership experience in India. They are considering a streamlined payment system, possibly through a co-branded Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) card, to make payments easier for Tata EV users and encourage wider adoption of electric vehicles in the country.

BPCL has a widespread network of more than 21,000 fuel stations and is dedicated to a sustainable future by integrating strategy, investments, and environmental objectives. Addressing range concerns for electric vehicle owners, BPCL has launched over 90 Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Highway Corridors nationwide, providing a fast-charging station approximately every 100 kilometres on both sides of major highways. These corridors cover a distance of more than 30,000 kilometres across various highways, as claimed by the official statement.

According to Santosh Kumar, Executive Director In charge Retail, BPCL said, “BPCL is constantly striving to align with the nation’s vision to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040. BPCL steadily moving closer to goal to converting 7000 of our conventional retail outlets into energy stations which is a part of a comprehensive decarbonization strategy to support and prioritize sustainable initiatives. BPCL has already set up a very large network of fast charging stations across highways. EV is a field of collaboration and we believe that joining hands with TPEM shall take the EV game of BPCL and TPEM to the next level.”

TPEM is the frontrunner in the Indian electric vehicle market, holding a market share of over 71% in electric passenger vehicles. The source statement indicates over 115,000 Tata EVs on Indian roads, with 75% serving as primary vehicles.

According to Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd., “EV adoption is a key imperative to combat the deteriorating air quality in Indian cities. Wide-spread and reliable charging infrastructure will be a key catalyst for accelerating EV adoption in India. In line with our commitment to develop the charging ecosystem in India, we are delighted to announce our strategic collaboration with BPCL, which is aimed at accelerating India’s journey towards e-mobility. This collaborative partnership epitomizes our shared vision of fostering positive change – an enabling infrastructure for the growing EV customer base. It will benefit from TPEM’s unparalleled EV usage insights, and BPCL’s formidable nationwide network. It has the potential to reshape the landscape of charging infrastructure in the country.”

Global case studies indicate that widespread and convenient charging infrastructure is essential for boosting electric vehicle (EV) adoption. The collaboration between these two prominent companies is anticipated to expedite charging infrastructure growth in India, playing a role in mainstreaming EV adoption in the country.

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