Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments (REIL), a joint venture between the center and the Rajasthan government, has invited bids to empanel agencies for location identification and installation of 222 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the country.

The successful bidder will be responsible for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the charging stations for ten years from the date of the signing of the agreement.

The last date to submit the bids online is May 17, 2023. Bids will be opened the following day.

If selected, the empaneled agency will have to furnish a performance bank guarantee within 30 days from the date of signing the agreement for a sum equal to 10% of the total cost of all category A and B type chargers to be installed for the allocated group.

The following categories of charging stations have been sanctioned to REIL by the Department of Heavy Industries (DHI), which will be supported for subsidy under FAME India, Phase-2 program:

Category A: Charging stations established in public places for commercial purposes and are available to any individual without any restrictions. The maximum subsidy available for this category is 70% of the cost of the EV supply equipment.

Category B: Charging stations established within the premises of a state or central government office complex, government hospitals, government educational Institutions, or any other public office for non-commercial use. The maximum subsidy is 100% of the cost of the EV supply equipment.

As per the tender documents, 65 fast charging stations and 25 slow charging stations have been allocated for Group-1 cities, which include Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur.

Similarly, 54 fast charging stations and 27 slow charging stations have been allocated for Group-2 cities, which include Bhopal, Indore, and Jabalpur.

For Group-3 cities, including Bangalore, Mangalore, and Hyderabad, 36 fast and 15 slow charging stations have been allocated.

To be eligible, the bidder should have experience in the automobile sector, including electric mobility, or in the supply, business, and operation of EV charging infrastructure.

Also, bidders should have experience in mobile application development, know-how of information technology, and online platform.

They should have a sound financial condition and the capability to invest at least ₹162.4 million (~$1.97 million) in the EV charging infrastructure business for Group-1 locations, ₹137.3 million (~$1.67 million) for Group-2, and ₹90.3 million (~$1.09 million) for Group-3.

Additionally, bidders should have an all-India support network to operate the EV charging infrastructure.

Upstream electrical infrastructure, separate power connection, transformer and meter, the cost of electricity including surcharge, duty, demand charges, canopy and barricading, contingency for power purchase adjustment charges, and all operating and maintenance expenses related to charging stations will be borne by the empaneled agency.

Last September, REIL issued a tender to empanel agencies to identify locations, install, operate & maintain 738 EV charging stations across India.

Earlier, REIL had invited bids for the survey, planning, supply, installation, and commissioning of 409 EV chargers in nine cities and across three national highways and one expressway.

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