Tata Motors Setting Up High-Speed EV Charger Network By 2027
The launch of the Tata.ev Mega Charger network for rapid electric vehicle charging has been announced by Tata Motors. The network is now being built in collaboration with four charging point operators (CPOs): Statiq, Zeon, Charge Zone, and Tata Power. The firm anticipates having 500 of these outlets online in the upcoming year.
A single four-gun charger or two 60kW two-gun chargers will be able to deliver a total of 120kW at each Mega Charger location. According to Tata Motors, all brands of electric vehicles can use the network, however Tata EVs will have preferential access and a rate that is up to 25% lower.
Mega Chargers will provide facilities including dining areas and restrooms, as well as, in certain cases, 24-hour staff assistance. There is also a single toll-free number for clients to receive round-the-clock assistance, regardless of the partner operator. Additionally, a uniform RFID device-based payment option, a single payment app, and connection with Tata Motors’ current iRA.ev app will all be available.
The company has “very clear service level agreements in place with each of the operators to ensure that the right kind of service level is provided,” even though the Tata.ev Mega Chargers are essentially being set up and run by outside CPOs. Therefore, as of right now, it has only partnered with four suppliers who have fulfilled all criteria.
To increase the charging infrastructure, Tata Motors teamed up with CPOs and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in 2023 as part of its “Open Collaboration” concept. In order to more than double the number of charging points to over 4,00,000 within the next two years, the business has now unveiled the “Open Collaboration 2.0” program. Of these, 30,000 will be public chargers, with the remaining number coming from home chargers and community charging outlets.
Additionally planned are UPI-based payments for doorstep charging using a mobile charging van and community charging through any UPI app. Tata Motors will add a “Tata.ev Verified Charger” grade for CPOs in its iRA app, in addition to its Mega Changer network. Customers will evaluate the charger on four criteria—environment, accessibility, operational condition, and compatibility with Tata EVs—on a 5-point rating system. “.ev verified” would only be awarded to sites having a rating of four stars or higher. Rajan stated that the company has conducted a comprehensive audit to find “.ev verified” places and will maintain the checklist open for third parties to inspect and validate them, even if the “.ev verified” logo will be crowdsourced.
