Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has stopped the free facility to charge electric vehicles at the the charging stations across Kerala. The board has started collecting Rs 15 per unit of power for charging from Monday night onwards. Domestic rate will be imposed for charging the vehicles at houses.

Free charging service was given for eight months since its inception at the six charging stations of KSEB in the corporations in the state. It was planned  to provide free charging for three months initially as part of encouraging electric vehicles. But this period was extended gradually due to the pandemic and delay in developing the app to book slots for charging.

The customers can find the stations and pay via the ElectreeFi app. The Electricity Regulatory Commission has decided to charge Rs five per unit for charging electric vehicles. The Central Government has specified that a service charge can be levied on the cost of setting up and running the station. So, KSEB fixed the charge as Rs 13. When 18 per cent GST is added, it will be Rs 15.34.

As there were free charging stations from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur, there were people in Kerala who used e-vehicles for free travelling, sources said.