ChargeZone Unveils Project E-DHARA: A Major Leap Toward 100% Renewable EV Charging
In a landmark move to decarbonize India’s electric mobility sector, ChargeZone has announced the launch of Project E-DHARA (Electrifying and Decarbonizing Highways through Accelerated Renewable Adoption). This initiative is designed to transition the company’s nationwide electric vehicle (EV) charging network to 100 percent renewable energy, marking a significant shift away from fossil fuel-based electricity.
As India’s largest EV charging company with over 13,500 charging points, ChargeZone aims to address a critical environmental challenge: while EVs eliminate tailpipe emissions, nearly 75 percent of the electricity used to charge them in India still comes from conventional sources like coal. Project E-DHARA bridges this gap by ensuring that both the vehicles and the energy powering them are fully sustainable.
The First Hub in Dahej: Creating a Blueprint for the Future
The project kicks off in 2025 with the commissioning of its first renewable-powered charging hub in Dahej, Gujarat. This facility serves as an operational prototype for the broader national rollout.
Key Features of the Dahej Hub:
- Solar Integration: The site will deploy a 1 Megawatt (MW) solar plant to generate clean electricity directly on-site.
- Energy Storage: A 5 Megawatt-hour (MWh) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will store excess solar energy, ensuring consistent power delivery even during non-sunny hours.
- Off-Grid Capability: The hub is designed to operate primarily off-grid, drawing from the conventional power grid only as a backup to maintain optimal energy security.
A National Vision: 100 Renewable Hubs by Next Year
ChargeZone has set an ambitious target to operationalize 100 renewable charging hubs along key national highways by next year. Most of these hubs will be designed to run entirely off-grid, creating a resilient and self-sustaining highway infrastructure.
Kartikey Hariyani, Founder and CEO of ChargeZone, emphasized that this initiative is more than just a technological upgrade—it is a “national energy transition.” By integrating solar generation, advanced battery storage, and high-speed charging infrastructure, the project creates a unified ecosystem capable of supporting both passenger electric vehicles and electric freight trucks, such as those from BillionE Mobility.
About ChargeZone
Headquartered in Vadodara, Gujarat, ChargeZone is a leader in high-speed, smart-grid-enabled charging solutions. With a presence at over 1,200 locations across India and the UAE, the company is on a mission to establish one million charging points, driving the EV revolution through scalable and interoperable infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is Project E-DHARA? Project E-DHARA is an initiative by ChargeZone to transition its EV charging network to 100 percent renewable energy. It stands for “Electrifying and Decarbonizing Highways through Accelerated Renewable Adoption.”
Q2: Where is the first renewable charging hub located? The first hub is being commissioned in Dahej, Gujarat. It features a 1 MW solar plant and a 5 MWh battery energy storage system.
Q3: How does this project help the environment? While EVs have zero tailpipe emissions, the electricity used to charge them often comes from coal. Project E-DHARA eliminates this by generating clean solar power on-site, ensuring the entire energy lifecycle of the EV is green.
Q4: Will these charging stations work at night? Yes. The hubs utilize large Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to store solar energy generated during the day, allowing vehicles to charge efficiently even at night or during cloudy weather.
Q5: What is ChargeZone’s future target for this project? ChargeZone plans to establish 100 renewable-powered charging hubs along key national highways by next year, significantly boosting India’s green highway infrastructure.
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