Hero Electric to set up 2,000 charging stations

{image-Hero Electric_28082008.jpg news.oneindia.in}New Delhi, Aug 28: Hero Electric, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hero Group, on Thursday, Aug 28 opened the first charging station for electric two-wheelers in the capital, saying it plans to set up 2,000 more such stations by the current fiscal-end.

''The company is setting up a network of charging stations for electric two-wheelers across the country in a move to help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, while providing current owners with more convenient charging options around town,'' Hero Electric CEO Sohinder Gill told reporters here. In the next three years, the number of recharging stations will be expanded to 10,000 from 2,000, Mr Gill said.

The company will set up the stations in a phased manner. In the first phase, it will install charging stations in conjunction with garage owners across the capital city. These stations will be called Hero Electric Preferred Garage Owners (PGOs).

Thereafter, it will set up charging stations in several places like parking lots, malls and schools throughout the country to help develop the transportation infrastructure needed to support electric vehicles.

The company also plans to bring in an electric passenger car in the country by 2013, besides introducing battery driven three-wheeler which will be manufactured at its existing Ludhiana plant. To gain technology for the electric four-wheeler, Hero Electric is looking to acquire foreign companies.

The company, which has gone solo after breaking its joint venture with UK's Ultra Motors, also plans to launch two more models of its e-bikes this financial year.

UNI