Kerala's power cuts force EV owners to worry about depleted batteries overnight

Frequent power outages leave Keralam's EV owners anxious over charging woes

Unpredictable electricity cuts are forcing electric vehicle owners across Keralam to navigate disrupted charging schedules, with many unable to ensure their batteries hold sufficient charge by morning. The anxiety is mounting as the power situation shows no signs of immediate improvement.

Harindran N., a resident of Vennala, says the lack of a fixed outage schedule compounds the problem. "On most occasions, the charging process is cut short when a power outage occurs, leaving the vehicle without sufficient charge in the morning," he explains. "The outages do not follow a schedule, and not knowing the timing is a major concern. We avoid charging during peak hours, but often remain unaware of cuts as we are asleep with the vehicle already plugged in," Dr. Harindran adds.

Manual intervention adds to burden

The disruption does not end with the power cut itself. Once electricity resumes, the charger has to be manually reconnected, failing which the vehicle is left with low charge in the morning, Dr. Harindran points out. "Knowing the timing of outages in advance would be helpful," he says.

Rahul Kumar, an architect from Thiruvananthapuram, shares similar concerns despite not yet experiencing the issue firsthand. "I have not been affected yet as I was travelling during the past two weeks. But once I start using my vehicle, this could become a concern. Whenever there is a disruption, charging is affected, and frequent outages could exacerbate this," he says.

Off-peak charging conflicts with business needs

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had urged EV owners to avoid evening charging and shift to off-peak hours in 2024. However, morning charging remains impractical for many whose livelihoods depend on electric vehicles.

Parvathy Nair, a businesswoman from Thripunithura, says the timing simply does not work for commercial users. "We use our vehicle in the morning for deliveries. We never get a break to charge it then, so nighttime is our only option," she explains.

Despite the crisis deepening, KSEB sources say they have not yet noticed any perceptible change in charging patterns among EV users. "People continue to charge their vehicles when convenient. There is a lack of awareness among the public. They should actively consider charging in the morning to reduce the load," an official says.

Battery health at stake

Finny Kurian, a music director from Kaloor, says he charges his vehicle in the morning and has largely escaped the disruption. "It is only on rare occasions that I have had to charge at night. So these disruptions haven't affected me," he says.

Yet Mr. Kurian warns that frequent interruptions during charging could harm battery health. Each disruption could result in a cycle being completed, thereby affecting battery life, he says.

Infrastructure expansion may compound load pressure

The proposed project to set up about 200 new charging stations across the State in the next financial year could prove useful to vehicle owners but may add to KSEB's woes. While some EV owners claim the power cuts have already begun to take a toll on charging, others feel the impact, if any, is yet to be felt. Still, they remain concerned that the situation could worsen in the coming days if the power situation doesn't improve.

Source: The Hindu