BSES Rajdhani Power (BRPL) has invited proposals to empanel vendors for deploying electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across various sites in Delhi.

These include semi-public sites or commercial buildings such as malls, offices, etc.; institutional buildings such as hospitals, colleges, group housing societies, and resident welfare associations, government offices, etc.; grocery stores, shops; and private property owners such as bungalows and apartments.

The last date for submission of bids is August 4, 2021, and the bids will be opened on the same day.

The empanelment would last for three years, renewed every year subject to regular reviews or modifications. Bidders are expected to pay a non-refundable tender fee of ₹1,180 (~$16) towards the cost of bid documents.

Scope of work

According to the scope of work, customers will purchase EV chargers from the empaneled agency under two business models – capital expenditure (CAPEX) and subscription model.

The empaneled agency must provide two quotes each under both the CAPEX and subscription model – one quote for the cost of an EV charging station or subscription fee without subsidy and the other quote for the cost of an EV charging station or subscription fee with subsidy.

The successful bidder would have to replace faulty or non-operational chargers within 24 hours of a formal complaint lodged by the consumer.

Under the subscription model, the consumer would pay equal monthly installments as a subscription fee over three years (36 months) to the empaneled agency. A consumer can opt for the subscription model, provided they procure a minimum of ten EV charging points from the empaneled agency.

The subscription agreement would include an operation and maintenance contract for three years. The contract must include provisions for planned maintenance every month, breakdown-related repairs and maintenance, and the provision of charging and payment through mobile apps.

The subscription fee would be calculated by deducting the subsidy from the EV charger. The subscription fee must be paid directly to the empaneled agency before the fifth of every month.

After the subscription period (three years), the ownership of the EV charger(s) would be transferred to the consumer free of cost.

Chargers and subsidies

Empaneled vendors are expected to install Type 1 AC 001, LEV AC (single socket), and DC 001# chargers. The DC charger would be installed at premises where the approved load is more than 15 kW.

The EV chargers must be tested by the certified labs of the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories.

Subsidies are available for slow chargers – Type 1 AC 001 and LEV AC (single socket). However, no subsidy will be offered for setting up fast chargers or any other type of slow chargers.

The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi would provide a 100% grant to purchase slow chargers costing up to ₹6,000 (~$81) for the first 30,000 charging points. The subsidy only covers the cost of the charger and not the installation costs.

Only one charging point per consumer account would be given subsidy under this program to private single-dwelling households.

Meanwhile, subsidies for semi-public units would be restricted to a maximum of 20 EV charging points or 20% of total parking slots, whichever is lesser. If a consumer plans to install more chargers than the given limit, the consumer will have to pay the full price for the additional EV chargers.

Qualification criteria

The bidder must have a net worth of at least ₹30 million (~$402,447) as of March 31, 2020. Start-ups recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry must have a net worth of at least ₹15 million (~$201,223) as of March 31, 2020.

Start-ups would be allowed to present a commitment of ₹15 million (~$201,223) from shareholders instead of proof of net worth.

Bidders are expected to be operators of charging stations with ongoing experience of operating and maintaining public or captive EV charging points with a minimum power output of 3.3 kW.

Bidders can also be manufacturers of EVs or EV supply equipment operating in India for at least one year as on the date of the bid document. Bidders can also be fleet aggregators or operators with ten or more EVs in operation on the date of publication of the request for selection (RfS).

All bidders are expected to install at least ten EV charging points for operations as of the date of publication of the RfS. For start-ups, a minimum of at least three EV charging points must be installed throughout their operations as of the date of publication of the RfS.

Delhi has been actively pursuing EV adoption mostly to curtail air pollution. To provide robust infrastructure, Delhi Transco Limited floated a tender for setting up EV charging and battery swapping stations in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) also issued an expression of interest, inviting proposals for setting up public EV charging infrastructure on major highways and expressways in the country.