Wed Dec 04 13:13:41 UTC 2024: ## India to Build 5,500km Electric Highway Network by 2027

**Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh –** India is accelerating its transition to electric mobility with plans to construct a 5,500 km network of “e-highways” equipped with advanced charging stations by 2027, three years ahead of schedule. This ambitious project, spearheaded by the National Highway for Electric Vehicles (NHEV), will feature third-generation green fuel charging stations capable of dispensing hydrogen, in addition to utilizing grid, solar, and wind power.

Abhijeet Sinha, Project Director of NHEV and National Programme Director for Ease of Doing Business, announced the initiative following a demonstration of a Solid State Transformer (SST) in Visakhapatnam. The charging infrastructure will be built along National Highways and Expressways, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

The project, estimated to cost ₹5,500 crore (approximately $660 million USD), with ₹3,762 crore allocated to infrastructure, will be implemented through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The stations will offer high-capacity charging for all types of electric vehicles, including cars, buses, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers. A key innovation is the inclusion of hydrogen vending capabilities, enabling rapid charging of heavy vehicles. Sinha highlighted that surplus solar and wind energy will be stored as liquid hydrogen.

A successful pilot project covering 500 km between Delhi-Agra and Delhi-Jaipur has already been completed. Further tech trials have been conducted on the Chennai-Trichy stretch, with ongoing work on the Chennai-Visakhapatnam and Visakhapatnam-Bhubaneswar routes. Sinha expressed confidence in surpassing Germany’s e-highway goals, citing significantly lower costs for infrastructure development in India (₹22 crore per km versus Germany’s significantly higher cost). This cost-effectiveness, coupled with technological advancements, positions India as a leader in sustainable transportation infrastructure.

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