This project focuses on planning EV charging infrastructure in Pabal village by considering current EV use and future growth. An important part of this work is understanding how the number of EVs has increased over the past few years and using this information to estimate future demand. This helps in deciding the type and size of charging infrastructure required.
The project started with understanding the problem statement, along with its objectives and expected outcomes. Based on this, a literature review was carried out. This included reports on EV charging infrastructure from NITI Aayog, research papers, guidelines from the Ministry of Power (MoP), and case studies from Karnataka and Pune.
The case studies helped in understanding the steps involved in planning charging infrastructure. Using this information, a questionnaire was prepared to collect data from people in Pabal. The aim of this was to estimate the possible EV load and understand user needs, which are important for deciding the size of the charging station.
After discussing with Mr. Omkar, the approach for the project was finalized. So far, two people from Pabal have been interviewed. Work is still in progress to improve the way of approaching more people so that better and more accurate information can be collected.
Further work includes visits to the TVS and Chetak showrooms in Pabal to understand the present EV market in the village. Discussions were held regarding the number and types of EVs sold every month, the common problems or complaints reported by customers after purchasing EVs, and whether the installation of a charging station in the village could influence EV sales in the future.
In addition, a visit was made to the nearby substation and data was gathered on the load profile of the village as well as the electricity usage patterns of a few homes that already own EVs. Information was also collected about government schemes that encourage the installation of rooftop solar systems, along with details of Time of Use (ToU) tariffs and electricity tariff structures for different types of consumers.
