Solar-powered charging stations for e-auto rickshaws in Jabalpur
The Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) has proposed to set up solar-powered charging stations in various localities of the town to charge the batteries of e-auto rickshaws. Currently there is no such facility available in the city to charge the batteries of the e-auto rickshaw and the individual owner charges the batteries from their houses through the power generated from conventional sources of energy like coal. Over 160 e-auto rickshaws are currently plying within JMC limits. The e-auto rickshaws were introduced in Jabalpur on January 30 this year after chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan handed over the keys to 70 persons in a function here.
New and renewable energy department principal secretary Manu Shrivastava told HT that the MP Urja Vikas Nigam and JMC are working on the modalities to have the solar-powered charging stations for e-auto rickshaws in Jabalpur and soon such stations will be set up. He said step to have solar-powered charging stations is being taken to encourage usage of renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy conservation by slowly reducing dependability on the conventional sources of energy. The JMC has proposed to set up solar powered charging stations in various localities, including near the railway station, medical college hospital, Damohnaka Square, Gwarighat, Gohalpur and Gokalpur localities, inter-state bus stand and Deendayal Square.Solar-powered charging stations will provide electricity at cheaper rates than that available from state-run discoms, the municipal officials say.
The stations will be run by the Jabalpur City Transport Services Limited (JCTSL). “After identifying the spots a proposal has been sent to the MP Urja Vikas Nigam for technical assistance to set up such stations having facilities to charge batteries of 15-20 e-auto rickshaws at the same time,” JCTSL chief executive officer Sachin Vishwakarma told HT. Pawan Virha, owner of an e-auto rickshaw said, “It takes eight-nine hours to charge the batteries and the power last for 80 kilometres”. He said, “I charge batteries in the night when all the electricity usage is low in the house and incur additional expenditure of over Rs 700 per month on power bills”. “If we get facility to charge the batteries on cheaper rates, I will definitely opt for it,” he said. Parmanad Kori owner of an e-auto rickshaw said “if the JMC provides the facility to charge batteries on nominal rates, it will be helpful as charging batteries from domestic power is costly affair.”
Source:HT
