NSCI creates some good, green ‘car’ma; instals EV charging station on premises

The National Sports Club of India NSCI has struck one for the green movement The club has installed an Electric Vehicle EV charging station on the premises The station is in the parking lot of the WorliHaji Ali club a mammoth space that can fit at least 1000 carsGreen pushViren Shah the clubrsquos acting president said ldquoWe have started this station in line with the governmentrsquos green push EVs may be the mode for the future and we are standing on the cusp of a green vehicle revolution It is important to recognise that and keep pace with the changing times We decided to install the station in sync with the environmentally aware actionoriented philosophy of our timesrdquoThe station which is operational now will also be available to nonmembers who want to charge their EVs Said Shah ldquoThis is located in the clubrsquos car park but is a public EV station We may be the first club in south Mumbai at least or may be in the city overall to start such an initiative We will be upping security too now that the club car park can be accessed by nonmembersrsquo vehicles This has just started so we have to work on certain scheduling and other aspects I think it will be hugely beneficial to south Mumbai because these charging facilities are still few especially in this part of town Also Haji Ali is a VVIP road a nodal part that connects to various parts of the city so the location too is idealrdquoDual chargingThe EV station has two pods which means two cars can be charged at a time ldquoand compared to other chargers this is superfast Usually the battery will take five hours approximately for a fullcharge Here it can be done in one hourrdquo said Sanit Patel of Charge Zone providers of the electric vehicle charging service The cost is Rs 18 per kilowatt The EV scenario is like the classic chicken lsquonrsquo egg situation Which came first The chicken or the egg In the same way what comes first charging stations or EVs ldquoThat is precisely the questionrdquo said Patel ldquoWe need to create infra so then we will have cars And we need to create cars so then we will have the infrardquo explained Patel Both Shah and Patel remind us that the civic authorities are stressing the need for more EV charging points so that people are encouraged to switch to EV vehicles and go green Accessibility of vehicle battery charging amenities is a big driver of that changeThe locationShah added ldquoEarlier Haji Ali was more about an area one would have to pass through to reach different destinations While this is true today too we also have a changing cityscape There are several highrise residential buildings in the Haji Ali vicinity those who live in them can benefit with the charging station in proximity We will spread awareness about the charging facility maybe through a hoarding at the club gate or some banners Our members were also informed of the same and asked to spread the message The car park lot is in the basement so it is not immediately visible awareness is vitalrdquoNew chapterThough the club officials do not see this as a profit model ldquoWe may earn some income from the charging but it will be towards added security housekeeping other club facilitiesrdquo they stated The concept of having a charging station may open a new chapter for clubs across the city Many clubs have substantial car park facilities But parking facilities at certain clubs are embroiled in controversy and other clubs are planning expanding parking amongst rising member numbers Still some can portion a space for EV charging facilities Clubs may also want a withit environmentally conscious image with EV stations being one part of their overall combat climate change efforts