M&M to set up solar charge stations for electric cars

Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), market leader in the utility vehicles segment, is looking at setting up solar-powered charging stations to fuel electric cars.

The company currently offers electric cars under the Mahindra-Reva brand, but these are mainly for export as India does not have the facilities to recharge them. The group now plans to create the necessary infrastructure. The aim is to establish self-sufficient charging points as it rolls out electric cars.

"We are working on our electric car Reva, a green car that would run on clean energy. For this, we are looking at charging stations to run on solar power. We are the first company to commission solar power projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM)," Anand Mahindra, vice-chairman of the $14.4-billion Mahindra group, said after the commissioning of a 5mw solar power station in Rajasthan.

"Electric cars sell the most in Norway. So, that is the future. The UK is the largest export market for Reva electric vehicles. But in India, we have to ensure that we have fuelling stations ... it'll take time," he said.