Electric Vehicle Charging Tender

An electric vehicle (EV) charging tender is a government NIT or RFP for procuring and installing public EV charging stations, including AC slow chargers, DC fast chargers (CCS, CHAdeMO, Type 2 standards), charging management software, and grid connection infrastructure, funded under FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) and state EV policies.

What is an Electric Vehicle Charging Tender?

India's government is aggressively building public EV charging infrastructure as part of its EV transition policy. Central and state agencies issue tenders for:

• CPSC (Charging Station as a Service): Government provides land; private operator installs and operates chargers under a revenue-sharing or lease model
• Public Charging Stations (PCS): Government procures and owns chargers; bids for supply, installation, and maintenance
• Highway charging corridors: NHAI tenders for charging stations at every 25 km on national highways
• Government fleet charging: PSUs, ministries procuring depot-level charging for their own EV fleet
• DISCCOM-operated charging: State DISCOMs deploying chargers at their premises as a value-added service

Key procurement parameters:

• AC charger specifications (3.3 kW to 22 kW), DC fast charger (50 kW to 350 kW)
• Connector standards (BIS IS 17017 compliance, Bharat AC 001 and DC 001 domestic standards)
• OCPP 2.0 protocol compliance for charging management system interoperability
• Data connectivity and remote monitoring requirements
• Civil works: canopy, cabling, earthing, signage
• 5-year AMC

FAME-II scheme distributes central grants to state agencies and DISCOMs who then issue tenders. BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) and MoRTH also fund charging infrastructure programmes.

Why EV Charging Tenders matter for Indian government suppliers

India's EV charging infrastructure is doubling annually. Central government PSUs, state DISCOMs, NHAI, and airport authorities are all active procurement entities. Equipment manufacturers (Tata Power, EESL, ChargeZone, Fortum India, Magenta Power), IT system integrators for charging management platforms, and civil contractors all benefit from this growing tender segment.

Example

EESL issues an NIT for supply, installation, and 5-year AMC of 1,500 public EV charging stations at government buildings across 15 cities, including 1,000 AC chargers (7.2 kW) and 500 DC fast chargers (50 kW). Total estimated value Rs 280 crore. BIS certification per IS 17017, OCPP 2.0 compliance, and smart charging capability are required. The L1 among three qualified bidders wins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a mandatory Indian standard for EV chargers in government tenders?

Yes. Government EV charger tenders specify BIS certification under IS 17017 (the Indian standard for EV supply equipment). The Bharat AC 001 (single-phase AC) and Bharat DC 001 (DC fast charging) connector standards are India-specific and mandatory for public charging under government policy.

What is FAME-II and who implements it?

FAME-II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles, Phase II) is a central government scheme providing subsidies and incentives for EV adoption and charging infrastructure. Ministry of Heavy Industries implements it; funding is distributed to state agencies, city corporations, and PSUs who then issue procurement tenders for charging infrastructure.

Can startup EV charging companies bid for government tenders?

Startups with DPIIT recognition can apply for EMD exemptions. However, most large charging station tenders have financial and technical pre-qualification requirements (minimum turnover, prior installation track record) that restrict smaller startups. Startups with established track records in smaller private-sector deployments can use those as references to meet government tender qualification criteria.

Do government EV charging tenders include the electricity supply contract?

In government-owned charging stations, the electricity cost is borne by the government (the procuring DISCOM or ministry). In CPSC (Charging Station as a Service) models where private operators pay for electricity, the charging tariff to EV users is regulated by the state electricity regulatory commission. Bidders must understand the electricity cost structure when pricing their bids.