[Venkatesh]

Magenta's new EV charging station that has come up in Turbhe, Navi Mumbai, was inaugurated by Subhash Desai, Minister of Industry and Mining, Government of Maharashtra.



The charging station has a total of 21 EV chargers, which include 4 DC fast chargers ranging from 15 to 50 kW capacity. The remaining 17 are AC chargers ranging from 3.5 to 7.5 kW capacity. The former are completely developed and manufactured in India.



The EV charging station is also powered by a combined 40 kW rooftop solar power, local electricity grid with backup diesel generator. The charging setup will be available 24x7 and can used via Magenta's ChargeGrid App.



Magenta has also inaugurated a manufacturing center at the location which will produce close to 4000 AC chargers per month.



Source

[Shreyans_Jain]

Originally Posted by Venkatesh

The charging station has a total of 21 EV chargers, which include 4 DC fast chargers ranging from 15 to 50 kW capacity. The remaining 17 are AC chargers ranging from 3.5 to 7.5 kW capacity. The former are completely developed and manufactured in India.

It is a shame that the new infrastructure coming up in India is already obsolete. What’s the point of having AC slow chargers on a dedicated public charging utility? DC fast chargers of 15-50kw are a joke. 15-20kw is what the world considers slow charging. The fast chargers coming up in the western world are of 150-300kw. If this is kind of infrastructure the government hopes will makes EVs more acceptable, they are in for a rude shock.

[SKC-auto]

Audi etron or Taycan can take the entire power from these 21 EV chargers. I guess the 17 AC chargers may be helpful if they have some kind of agreement with a local taxi company, where the drivers can plug their cars at night before going home.

[Shresth_EV]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

DC fast chargers of 15-50kw are a joke. 15-20kw is what the world considers slow charging. The fast chargers coming up in the western world are of 150-300kw. If this is kind of infrastructure the government hopes will makes EVs more acceptable, they are in for a rude shock.

I can see why they’d have a cautious approach with the investment for putting chargers — it sounds to me, an attempt at gaining brownie points with the big number in headlines “21 chargers”, when in reality only few are DC Fast charger.

I mean, they’d save more money by simply not putting those AC chargers out there and opt for putting maybe just two more DCFC stalls, instead of 17 AC chargers.

AC chargers would only make sense if they’d make such a dedicated station near a mall/multiplex/supermarket people will actually spend some time to gain some charge while they do their chores. Maybe a local can update on that? I couldn’t find the said charging hub on Google Maps. PlugShare also shows only Tata motors dealership as only DCFC in Navi Mumbai.

As to the power rating of DCFC stalls themselves, it’s more of hindsight and “chalta hai” attitude, probably their management saw that the best selling EV, the Nexon, tops out at 25kW DC and the next best sellers, MG and Kona, top out at 50kW.

It’s hindsight because maybe in future, Tata adds 50kW charging to Nexon EV or the host of other EVs they plan in future. It’s also pretty clear that charging infra, once in place, won’t be changed for at least a decade or so, unless otherwise defective/damaged by external factors.

I don’t think we’d get any substantially fast chargers unless

1. Indian Private charger companies see that vehicles with high DC rates are selling. They need that nudge to wake them.

2. Tesla enters and opens superchargers for every EV on sale (and hopefully uses CCS2)

3. Ionity/ElectrifyAmerica (but in Asia of course) type of company makes landfall and brings along their chargers which they use in west presently.

In the last two, it’ll be like the Micromax all over again — they need an external nudge (Chinese phones vis a vis supercharger/Ionity) to prove that giving inferior stuff won’t work.
They still don’t make a premium device though, but the example fits I guess, at least in relative sense

[gauravdgr8]

Too primitive.

For new owners who have bought an EV just for the oomph factor and not understood the overall charging science, will get a rude shock when the normal charger will take 10 hours to charge their EV. Moreover 50KW is not something to talk about, and too low for the 21 chargers. Not even enough for 2 Nexon's or even a single iPace or E-Tron.

We are atleast 10 years behind in this space. Only see Tesla as someone who would come and transform this space and then others trying to play catch up, like it's happening in US.

[Comrade]

Installing a 50kW DC charger is still commendable where there is no demand. How many EVs are plying on the road and using public charging? Industry in India is in a very nascent stage and players are just testing waters. Its commendable to see some of the players (eg: Tata Power) lighting up all the major highways with 50kW dc fast chargers even before there are cars to utilise them. Heck they are installing chademo chargers before there is at least single chademo model on sale. Maybe they are getting FAME subsidies but still. These DC chargers are not cheap, and then they have to engage manpower, real estate, local electricity boards, permits, central offices, IT back-end etc etc. These baby steps will help them to get up and run when its time. You cant expect them to run soon after birth.

[lina]

what is the point of installing chargers in cities? Chargers should be placed on highways spaced out like how A2B and SaravanaBhavans are present on TN highways.

Ideally, hotels in cities, restaurants on the highways should be able to setup these chargers easily. Thats the only way this will scale.

[MOUNTAINMAN]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

It is a shame that the new infrastructure coming up in India is already obsolete. What’s the point of having AC slow chargers on a dedicated public charging utility? DC fast chargers of 15-50kw are a joke. 15-20kw is what the world considers slow charging. The fast chargers coming up in the western world are of 150-300kw. If this is kind of infrastructure the government hopes will makes EVs more acceptable, they are in for a rude shock.

I know the headlines "India's largest public EV charging stations opens in Mumbai" sounds more like an advertising gimmick when you look into the details. Many people rightfully don't look much satisfied with this.

Look at the positive side:
1. Any form of new charging station is gold stand at this moment, we need EV charging network whether for car or bike. It will only add up to little more confidence or convenience for EV users.

2. 15kW or 50kW, its good to start with these capacities strategically, and as EV users increase these charging stations can be a platform for upgrading to much more powerful 100kW-300kW Fast chargers. We need to consider the POV of the investors too as it may not look viable to put a very expensive charger with very few users.
Going by the quote below from the original news post, if 50kW can charge 0-80 or 100% in 45 minutes then 50kW fast chargers are also very good at the moment considering the number of EV cars on road and the cost of Infrastructure.

The facility houses a total of 21 EV chargers, out of which 4 are 15 to 50 kW DC fast chargers while the rest are 3.5 to 7.5 kW AC chargers. It is said that the fast chargers can fully charge an EV from 0-100% in about 45 minutes.

3. For all the friends who are unhappy for 17 out of 21 chargers being 3.5 to 7.5 kW AC chargers, well then you should think a little more about our eBike using friends. I understand that 99% of eBike only use AC chargers (I may be wrong so correct me), and even going by a poor assumption, eBikes must be selling atleast 5-10 times more than EV Cars, so its a fair share.

4. I am not familiar with the location of this charging station but seems it is in an industrial area so there must be lots of people coming to work in the factories and offices near by, making it convenient to leave it on charging while they are at work. Overnight charging facility helps those working in the late night shifts.

5. The good part about this station is that it is also partially powered by solar energy, so it contributes a bit towards clean energy. It would be best if all charging stations area is fully covered by solar panels so that clean energy supply to EV cars are maximized and servers the purpose of going EV.

So any form of new charging station is welcome and a stepping stone to an Electric & cleaner future.

[SnS_12]

Originally Posted by Venkatesh

The remaining 17 are AC chargers ranging from 3.5 to 7.5 kW capacity. The former are completely developed and manufactured in India.

So, a electric Nexon with 30kWh being charged with 3.5 kw AC charger will take around 8 hrs for a full charge. For an IC engine owner that's like filling the tank using a syringe at the pump. So 1 lowest capacity AC charger can accommodate maximum of 3 cars in 24 hrs.

This will work for people who have a dedicated desk job and can leave their car for so long at a public charging point while at work.

[Lobogris]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

It is a shame that the new infrastructure coming up in India is already obsolete. What’s the point of having AC slow chargers on a dedicated public charging utility? DC fast chargers of 15-50kw are a joke. 15-20kw is what the world considers slow charging. The fast chargers coming up in the western world are of 150-300kw. If this is kind of infrastructure the government hopes will makes EVs more acceptable, they are in for a rude shock.

Currently, the most selling EV in India, Tata Nexon, can charge at a maximum rate of 25KW. The next best selling one, MG ZS, can charge at a maximum of around 50KW. So what is the point of having a faster charger? Even 25KW is quite good as you can top up your vehicle in around 30 minutes. In addition, most EV cars in India are the Tigor and eVerito used by taxi fleets. These can only charge at 3KW. The reason for faster chargers in the US is that people there are very impatient and want to stop for only 10 minutes or less. Until we have any vehicles capable of charging at 150KW or above and they are sold in large numbers, it is unrealistic to expect faster chargers. At the moment I would be delighted to have a network of 25KW chargers across the country. I don’t think it is that difficult to upgrade the charger capacity. The main issue is having a space, parking slots and other business licenses. Once you have a functioning location, upgrading in a few years is not hard at all.

[mohanphadnis]

I don't understand who requires public AC chargers?
If you are doing curb side parking, and there are lamp post based AC chargers for slow over night charging, then it makes sense.

While I can see why they are not going above 50kW for DC fast charging, most cars sold right now is less than 50kW DC charging. These AC chargers in such a big number at one place seems a waste of money. I am certain they could get one more DCFC rather than those 17 AC chargers.

If these AC chargers are actually having type 2 connectors, not certain what use are they to 2W either? None of the current Two wheelers actually use Type 2 for charging ports right now.

[gauravdgr8]

Originally Posted by Lobogris

Currently, the most selling EV in India, Tata Nexon, can charge at a maximum rate of 25KW. The next best selling one, MG ZS, can charge at a maximum of around 50KW. So what is the point of having a faster charger? Even 25KW is quite good as you can top up your vehicle in around 30 minutes.

That's not how it's done. If there are 4 cars (Nexon, Nexon, Tigor, Verito)charging, and MG comes in to charge, they would be sharing the 50KW between them. So effectively get around 8-10KW each. That means the MG which can charge 80% in 40 mins, would take 3 hours for 80%.

[SKC-auto]

Originally Posted by gauravdgr8

That's not how it's done. If there are 4 cars (Nexon, Nexon, Tigor, Verito)charging, and MG comes in to charge, they would be sharing the 50KW between them. So effectively get around 8-10KW each. That means the MG which can charge 80% in 40 mins, would take 3 hours for 80%.

What you said is true when the charge current is shared between multiple chargers, I could not find any news which says the power is shared between the chargers in this case. Sharing power across 4 DC chargers is a rarity.

Usually the power is shared between 2 chargers, since all cars have a charging curve(faster charge rate when battery is empty), there are less chances of 2 cars with low battery connecting to two adjacent chargers at the same moment, it's a brilliant way to reduce the charger costs.

[warp_10]

I still think this is a good move. We need to realize that just because there is technology out there that is light years ahead, we cannot go ahead and start adopting that. Building infrastructure usually goes about being done ground up.

US is now decades ahead, well when US started, they were definitely decades behind Japan (and is true in most technologies, be it 5G or fuel cell - looking into the future for US, its routine in Japan). That does not mean that they just buy the latest technology and start using it. They need to build a market, (infrastructure together with it), grow / buy tech, grow it organically ground up.

India is starting where US was a decade back (usually in all technologies, you can draw parallels to Japan-US to US-India). We will definitely catch up, but that does not mean we just pump all money into latest tech infra without growing the market along with it. (I was hoping for Tata power to take the lead in India for scaling EV infra, but Magenta looks to be good.)

[RedTerrano]

So how do the sockets work? Do all cars have same socket design? Has any standardisation been laid down? Or does one need to carry multiple adaptors?