NOTE: I applied for a new Dedicated Electric Vehicle Mahavitran/MSEDCL connection after booking an EV and got the new connection in a fortnight —and before EV delivery! I am merely sharing my experience. This is not a technical guidance. Please consult an expert for appropriate guidance.
Total cost for a 5 KW, 6 KVA Single Phase Connection for up to three chargers (4 wheeler, 2 wheeler): INR 16K approx.
Total number of visits to Mahavitran/MSEDCL: 5.
Total number of phone calls: ~20
Total number of days required for the date of the visit to the first visit to the Mahavitran/MSEDCL office to installation of the dedicated EV meter: 15 days!!!
Requirement is for a dedicated single phase 5 KW Mahavitran/MSEDCL connection for using up to three EV vehicles (up to two 4-wheelers that have 3.3 KW charger, one 2-wheeler; the two 4-wheelers will not be charged simultaneously). The process began after a booking amount was paid to Garve Tata Motors where Sourabh Bilgoji and Shubhanshu Dandge provided useful initial information. Shubhanshu connected me with someone who had previously done the process who could share some more information with me.
1. Mahavitran/MSEDCL office visit#1 (Day#1). Was told that I need to fill physical Form A1 for a new connecton for an EV.
2. I chose to fill the online Form A1 on Day#2. Specified Single Phase, three chargers, selected 4-wheeler and 2-wheeler options. Also, sought a 5 KW, 6 KVA connection. Specified Type-2 AC and specified “Provisional Estimate along with Processing Fees”. https://wss.mahadiscom.in/wss/wss My discussion with Garve Tata Motors and the info at the following blog were useful inputs: https://www.team-bhp.com/news/how-i-installed-dedicated-75-kw-electric-meter-my-ev-home
3. To submit the online form one needs an undertaking (Form#2) and Inspection Form D1.
4. Got undertaking i.e. Form#2 (https://evincentive.mahadiscom.in/EVCS/document/Format-2.pdf) with slightly modified wording (as I am applying for a private charging station unlike what the form states) on a INR 500 stamp paper (I understand that INR 200 stamp paper is not available). Also, got that notarized (notarization may not have been essential). Total cost was INR 900.
5. Got Form D1 from a Mahavitran/MSEDCL approved contractor who made a quick assessment of the requirement. Paid INR 300 for the same (as per my understanding this form cannot be for free as a private approved contractor can issue it). (Apparently, the cost for a 5 KW connection and 3.3 KW connection is the same.)
6. Uploaded the required documents and paid the Provisional Estimate of INR 3,460 online on Day#3.
7. Mahavitran/MSEDCL office visit#2 (Day#4): Was told that in addition to the online Form A1 I also need to fill physical Form A1.
8. Mahavitran/MSEDCL wireman did an inspection and very promptly wrote a survey report on Day#5.
9. Mahavitran/MSEDCL office visit#3 (Day#5). Submitted the papers and was told that my request for a new connection would be approved by Day#6.
10. Mahavitran/MSEDCL connection approved. The estimate of INR 11,250 i.e. INR 11,250 minus INR 3,460 = INR 7,790 is paid online on Day#6.
11. Contacted Electrician (on Day#6 and Day#7) who installed a box (thin steel box with small glass front), Legrand RX3 40A MCB (had asked for Legrand DX3 but that was not available and the alternative was acceptable), 6 sq. mm. Finolex (had asked for Polycab but the alternative was acceptable) copper wires live and neutral connections, and 2.5 sq. mm. Finolex copper wire for Earth connection. Outside the box the wires were kept inside a PVC pipe. The connections were taken close to the main bus but the Electrician is NOT authorized to make the connection. The electrician was paid INR 3,300 including his labor charges of INR 1,000.
Note: The thickness involved another telephonic discussion with a knowledgeable electrician and the use of the Schneder Electric website as a reference: https://eshop.se.com/in/blog/post/electrical-cable-size-calculator-cable-size-chart-amps.html
12. Mahavitran/MSEDCL office visit#4 (Day#7): submitted the receipt for the complete payment of INR 11,250. Was advised that the Mahavitran/MSEDCL agency will contact me in 3 working days.
13. Mahavitran/MSEDCL office visit#5 (Day#14): informed that the Mahavitran/MSEDCL agency had still not contacted me. Was advised that the Mahavitran/MSEDCL agency would install the meter by Day#15.
14. Mahavitran/MSEDCL agency person connected the meter on Day#15.
Wall-mounted charger installation:
15. Tata Power vendor completes survey on Day#16. They can undertake installation only after the delivery of the car (and charger).
16. Got delivery of one EV on Day#18 and another EV on Day#20.
17. Tata Power vendor completes installation of wall mounted chargers on Day#21. They use armoured cable and use MCB near the meter and MCB near the wall mounted unit. Beyond 15m of the armoured cable is charged at INR 295 per meter. The two installations took around 5 hours approximately. They install an MCB near the new connection output as well as an MCB in the wall mounted charger.
NOTE-1: A new connection could be possible with fewer follow-ups but it could take more time which could be fine if there is no urgency like expected delivery of an EV.
NOTE-2: A NOC from the management from the Society for dedicated EV meter and wall-mounted chargers is desirable. I have heard differing opinions on whether it is mandatory or Good-to-Have. I did submit the NOC along with my application for a new dedicated EV meter on Day#5.
NOTE-3: A 3 phase connection for a 7.2 KW charger would be considerably more expensive.
NOTE-4: The break-even for having a new dedicated connection could be around INR 16,000 (i.e. approx 2,000 KWhr or 2,000 units of energy which in turn could be around) 16,000 km if your residential connection tariff slab is approximately twice of the tariff of the dedicated connection for EV. Every case is different. If your requirement is for lesser energy consumption and the current tariff slab applicable is among the initial slabs then an application for an increase in load sanction from Mahavitran/MSEDCL could suffice.
Aniruddha M Godbole is an AI Solution Architect. He has ~20 years of experience in AI, Data Science and Analytics. Aniruddha is a co-author of Packt Publishing’s international publication “Natural Language Processing Workshop” (August 2020). He holds an MS in Data Science from Indiana University. He has varied interests and is also interested in Electric Vehicles. These are his personal views.