Expenses incurred by manufacturing companies in setting up charging stations for electric vehicles across the country should be considered an activity within the ambit of corporate social responsibility (CSR), a committee formed under the secretary of the transport ministry has recommended. The proposal has been made to facilitate adoption of electric mobility in India, where setting up charging infrastructure is becoming a major impediment.

The Telangana government will unveil an exclusive policy tomorrow for promoting electric vehicles in the state, a senior official said. "There will be several incentives for vehicle manufacturers, and also sops for setting up charging stations and other infrastructure. The policy has been prepared in consultations with the industry players and most of those expectations have been included in the policy," the official said.

Setting up charging stations for electric vehicles does not need a separate-licence under the Electricity Act of 2003, the government has said, giving a big boost to ambitious EV-plans. The clarification follows confusion over whether during charging of battery for use in EV, the charging station performs any activity of transmission, distribution or trading of electricity, which would require a license under the Act.