Uttarakhand tops Himalayan States in electric vehicle charging, 221 stations installed in five years
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Transport minister Pradeep Batra claimed that Uttarakhand has emerged as a leader among the Himalayan States in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Over the past five years, 221 EV charging stations have been installed in the state. These include 84 fast chargers and 137 slow chargers. Additionally, 61 additional charging units have been installed under the central government’s FAME-II scheme. Batra stated that the number of electric vehicles in the State has also increased rapidly. The number of registered EVs in Uttarakhand has reached 1.04 lakh, with more than 58,000 electric vehicles added in the last three years alone. The State’s charging network is being consistently expanded to keep pace with the growing EV population.
The minister said that Uttarakhand is far ahead of other Himalayan States in terms of EV charging infrastructure. The State has 221 charging stations, compared to 180 in Jammu and Kashmir, 133 in Himachal Pradesh, 62 in Meghalaya, 58 in Manipur, 55 in Tripura, 12 in Sikkim and one in Ladakh.
Batra stated that this achievement is a result of the state government’s commitment to promoting green mobility under the leadership of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The government aims to create a robust, comprehensive, and convenient charging network for EVs in the State. Particular emphasis is being placed on strengthening the fast charging network, especially on high-traffic tourist routes and the Char Dham Yatra routes. Work is also underway to ensure adequate power load is being provided to charging stations.
He said that with the increasing adoption of electric vehicles, electricity consumption is also expected to increase significantly in the coming years. Currently, electric vehicle-related electricity consumption is about 1.57 million units annually, and is projected to reach 2.36 million units in 2025-26, 7.44 million units in 2026-27, and 23.48 million units in 2027-28.The Transport minister stated that the government is not limited to expanding charging infrastructure, but is also prioritising the electrification of public transport. Transport corporation buses are being electrified in a phased manner. Work is also underway to convert older buses to electric vehicles. Green mobility is a crucial foundation for Uttarakhand’s future transportation system. By promoting electric vehicles, the government is acting consistently to reduce pollution, reduce fuel dependence, protect the environment and make the state clean and green, Batra said.
