Queries

Under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme, eligible Charge Point Operators (CPOs) may submit proposals either for setting up new EV Public Charging Stations (EVPCS) or for upgradation of existing charging infrastructure. For the purpose of eligibility under the Scheme:

• Upgradation of an existing EV charging station is restricted to the installation of additional/new EV Supply Equipment (EVSMs) and the associated upstream electrical infrastructure required exclusively for such new chargers.
• Upgradation does not include general enhancement or strengthening of existing electrical infrastructure without the addition of new EV charging machines
• Enhancement of transformer capacity, cabling, or other upstream electrical works shall be considered eligible only when directly linked to the installation o additional/new EV charging machines, and subject to compliance with the PM E-DRIVE Operational Guidelines and applicable regulations.

The Land Feasibility Assessment Form in Annexure-B is intended to provide a consolidated assessment of the suitability of the proposed location for establishing an EV Public Charging Station. In this regard, it is informed that the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has issued a suggestive Location Feasibility Report template outlining the indicative information required to assess the feasibility of a proposed EVPCS location. The Feasibility Conclusion Statement may briefly summarize, based on the details furnished in the template:

• Overall technical and electrical feasibility of the site,
• Adequacy of land and accessibility,
• EV traffic potential and utilization prospects,
• Readiness of electrical infrastructure and timelines, and
• Overall suitability of the location for implementation under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme
• Applicants are advised to furnish all relevant details as per the suggestive template to enable a reasonable, transparent, and objective assessment of the proposal and subsequent processing for subsidy disbursal.

As per the PM E-DRIVE Operational Guidelines, subsidy is disbursed to the Nodal Agency and/or the implementing entity (CPO), as applicable. The scheme does not provide for direct disbursement to individual site owners.

KSEBL is not in a position to prescribe a definitive timeline for approval or subsidy disbursement. Applicants may refer to the PM E-DRIVE Operational Guidelines for details on the disbursement mechanism, including tranche-wise conditions, if applicable. As per the PM E-DRIVE framework:

• Approval and subsidy-related decisions rest with MHI.
• KSEBL’s role is limited to aggregation and submission of proposals as per the EoI

No. The EoI and the PM E-DRIVE framework do not stipulate any revenue-sharing or servicecharge mechanism between KSEBL (as Nodal Agency) and CPOs under Category C

Any extension of the submission timeline, if considered, shall be notified through designated web portal . https://pmedrivekerala.kseb.in

The tariff/price charged to end-users by the CPO shall be in compliance with the applicable orders and regulations issued by the competent authority, including provisions of the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) and the Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Power (MoP). No separate tariff ceiling is prescribed under the EoI beyond such regulatory compliance.

Charging to end-users (including any service fee, if applicable) is not prescribed under the EoI. End-user ceiling tariffs shall be in compliance with applicable orders and regulations issued by the competent authority, including provisions of the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) and the Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Power (MoP).

Electricity supply shall be sanctioned strictly in accordance with the Kerala Electricity Supply Code and applicable KSERC regulations. As per prevailing regulations, connected load / contract demand under LT supply is limited to the permissible thresholds specified in the Supply Code. Any requirement exceeding the permissible LT limits shall require availing supply under HT, subject to technical feasibility and compliance CE(REES)/INV/EV-CELL/PME-DRIVE/CATC/AE-13(C)/2025-26 I/218852/2026 with applicable regulations

No. Neither the EoI nor the PM E-DRIVE Operational Guidelines provide for any remuneration payable by KSEBL to CPOs for liaison, facilitation, or implementation activities .Any commercial arrangement—including fees, commissions, service charges, or revenue sharing —between the CPO and the site owner/investor is outside the scope of the PM E-DRIVE subsidy framework and shall not form part of, or be deducted from, the subsidy amount

No. Neither the EoI nor the PM E-DRIVE Operational Guidelines mandate procurement from any specific charger manufacturer. However, all chargers installed must

• Comply with the charging standards notified by the Ministry of Power, and
• Meet Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) requirements, as amended from time to time. Required compliance documentation or certification shall be produced at the relevant stage, as prescribed under the Guidelines

The PM E-DRIVE framework recognizes the Nodal Agency and the CPO as the official interface for proposal submission, processing, and correspondence. The scheme does not provide for a direct subsidy-processing interface between MHI/KSEBL and individual site owners. Commercial, ownership, and investment arrangements between the site owner/investor and the CPO—including operations, maintenance, uptime, and network management—shall be governed by mutual agreement between the parties

App-less charging/payment facility is NOT mandatory for the 10 existing stations submitted to demonstrate eligibility/experience. Those 10 stations are required only as documentary evidence of operational experience/track record. They will not be evaluated for app-less payment compliance, and the absence of app-less payment in any/all of those existing stations shall not be a ground for rejection/disqualification at eligibility stage. For the proposed EVPCS locations under this EoI, provision of app-less charging/payment facilities shall be required only if explicitly mandated by applicable smart-charging guidelines, regulations, or directions issued by the competent authority at the time of implementation or commissioning. In the absence of such a mandate, app-less payment shall not be a compulsory requirement, and the CPO shall comply with the payment and transaction mechanisms prescribed by the competent authority as applicable at that time.

Applications shall be evaluated strictly in accordance with the eligibility conditions and technical capability requirements as stipulated in the EoI and the clarifications notified through the designated web portal. In this context, requests seeking relaxation, deviation, or modification of the prescribed eligibility criteria, including requirements relating to mobile application or platform capabilities, are not envisaged at this stage and therefore cannot be acceded to.

The Charging Management System (CMS) may be owned, developed, or operated by a third-party entity. Notwithstanding the above, the Charge Point Operator (CPO) shall hold valid and enforceable legal rights to use such CMS for the operation of EV Public Charging Stations in full compliance with the requirements stipulated in the EoI. The CPO shall furnish documentary evidence substantiating the availability of such legal rights, as and when called for by Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEBL). Further, it is clarified that the requisite legal rights for the use of the CMS shall have been duly obtained on or before 01.01.2025, in accordance with the mobile application release timeline specified in the EoI.