GLIDA Rolls Out Largest Public EV Charging Hub in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: The electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure provider GLIDA, formerly known as Fortum Charge & Drive India, has unveiled its largest public EV charging hub in Hyderabad. Equipped with 102 charging points, this hub marks a significant milestone in the EV ecosystem of the city.

GLIDA, a subsidiary of Finnish clean energy major Fortum, has established the new public charging hub near the Hyderabad international airport on a nearly one-acre parcel of land. The hub has the capacity to charge 102 cars, light commercial vehicles (LCVs), or buses simultaneously at a cost ranging from Rs 13.55 to Rs 21 per unit of electricity consumed.

The infrastructure at the hub includes one 200KW ultra-fast charger with six satellite dispensers, 28 dual gun DC chargers of 60KW CCS2, eight dual gun DC chargers of 30KW CCS2, 20 AC chargers of Type-2 7.4KW AC, and two dual gun chargers of DC001.

With the addition of this charging hub, GLIDA now operates a total of 49 EV charging stations in Hyderabad, encompassing 187 charging points. The company has expanded its presence to 30 cities across 16 states, boasting approximately 740 charging points in total.

Awadhesh K Jha, Executive Director of GLIDA, emphasized Hyderabad’s pivotal role in the company’s journey, citing the city as the location of GLIDA’s first public EV charging station launched in partnership with IOCL in 2018. Jha highlighted the surge in four-wheeled EVs in Hyderabad, indicating promising returns for the company’s EV charging infrastructure investments.

While the exact investment figures for the new hub were not disclosed, Jha mentioned that costs for chargers can range from Rs 1-2 lakh for slow chargers to Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore for high-capacity chargers.

Describing the current era as the “decade of electric mobility,” Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary of IT & Industries, lauded the potential of EVs in addressing environmental challenges and fostering sustainable living conditions in India.

As GLIDA continues to expand its footprint and enhance EV charging infrastructure, the company remains committed to driving the adoption of electric vehicles and contributing to a greener future for India.