Vaikom: Many of the pole-mounted electric vehicle (EV) charging units that have been installed by KSEB remain either underutilised or unutilised. KSEB says that people are not making use of these charging ports due to a lack of adequate signboards or visual cues.

There is no indication other than the small white box on top of the pole where the charging units are located. KSEB said that these should be installed in a place where two and three-wheelers can be parked. Instructions have been given to contractors. However, this condition is not followed in many places. 

Consumers complain that the mobile app developed by a private company to locate charging points is not effective as the location is never accurate. ‘

Kerala's first locally developed pole-mounted EV charging unit was installed on a trial basis in Kozhikode in October 2021. Subsequently, 1169 charging points were set up across the state, with at least five in each constituency and 15 in corporations. The government spent Rs 9 crore on this. KSEB estimates that on average, 19,000 vehicles are charged using the ports each month. 

Pole-mounted units can charge faster than when charging at home. Payment to KSEB is to be made by scanning the QR code at the charging units by using the app. The tariff is Rs 10 per unit and it comes up to Rs 11.6 when GST is added.