Deepening partnership expanded on electric vehicle charging infrastructure between India and EU
** February 24, 2025, witnessed the cavalcade of the inaugural India-EU workshop on electric vehicle (EV) charging technology zooming into Pune's bustling cityscape, under the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC) working group's green and clean energy banner.** This jamboree brought together policymakers, bigwigs from the electromobility industry, standardisation associations, and technical testing facilities, all dressed up to foster harmonious and sustainable solutions for the future of transport.
This dazzling event took center stage before the EU-India TTC, with ambitions to enhance collaboration on digital transition, clean and green technologies, and trade and investment. The TTC will delve into digital public infrastructure compatibility, the resilience of key value chains, and international trade concerns.
The charming dance between the EU and India is evolving under a fresh strategic agenda geared towards building prosperity, security, peace, and people-to-people connections. Research cooperation presents a dynamic contribution to this symphony.
Synergizing EU-Indian Charging Standards
The workshop, organized by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and the European Commission's Joint Research Center (JRC), with the backing of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, tackled fundamental EV charging policies and technical aspects across all EV sizes, emphasizing interoperability and standardization.
Presentations, discussions, and debates spanned topics like:
- EU and Indian charging standards, infrastructure needs, and communication requirements;
- Future mobility strategies in India and the EU, eyeing synergies resulting in greater efficiency;
- EV charging system testing capabilities, with a focus on ARAI and JRC facilities;
- Industry insights on bolstering India-EU collaboration in EV charging.
The Stage is Set for Deeper Collaboration
This occasion presented a grand opportunity for deepening bilateral collaboration in standardizing EV charging infrastructure, embracing cooperative, pre-normative research for harmonized test solutions and knowledge exchange within the realms of electromobility.
The prosperous gathered were granted an exclusive tour of the top-notch ARAI laboratory, immersing them in India's cutting-edge EV testing facilities.
Additional Insights
- The workshop aligns with broader EU-India cooperation on technology and innovation.
- The TTC framework includes plans for additional joint research calls in 2026, focusing on areas like battery recycling for electric vehicles.
- The EU has implemented the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) to escalate the installation of public charging points across the European Union, ensuring a robust charging infrastructure.
- India's National Mission for Electric Mobility (NMEM) and the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME) policies have been instrumental in promoting EV adoption and infrastructure development, including charging infrastructure.
- A recent Indian initiative, the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SPMEPCI), offers investment-linked incentives to fuel domestic EV manufacturing, including provisions for charging infrastructure development.
[2]: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-yoursay/initiatives/12628-Alternative- Fuels-Infrastructure-Regulation
- In the realm of environmental-science, the workshop reaffirmed India and EU's commitment to harmonious standards for electric vehicle (EV) charging technology.
- Beyond EV charging, the workshop coincides with broader EU-India cooperation on technology and innovation, particularly in areas such as renewable energy, AI, and quantum computing.
- Striving for a sustainable future, the workshops delved into digital standards for EV charging, ensuring seamless integration with the digital public infrastructure.
- In the pursuit of financial growth, the EU-India TTC acknowledged the importance of collaboration in the finance industry for the successful deployment of EV technology.
- The innovative technology industry will undoubtedly experience significant strides, as research cooperation between India and EU advances the technology sector, promoting the adoption of clean, green technologies in the transport sector.
