October 21, 2025

Hold on, EV lovers! A new draft from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on the National Building Code (NBC) is stirring the pot. The draft says charging electric vehicles (EVs) below the ground floor in homes and offices should be avoided or limited to slow charging in the first basement. Why? To keep things safe and avoid fire hazards. This rule, out for public feedback since April 2025, suggests charging points work best outdoors or in parking buildings above ground with good air flow. Sounds smart, but wait – most urban parking, especially in big cities, is underground! Vivek Samynathan, CEO of Plugzmart, points out a big problem: "Restricting EV charging to no basements could limit easy access and slow down good charging networks in crowded metros." He argues for smarter safety options like certified equipment, smart chargers, and real-time monitoring instead. Karthikeyan Palanisamy, CEO of Zeon Charging, bursts a myth: "Statistics show Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars catch fire 20 times more than EVs! So if EV parking is banned underground for safety, what about ICE vehicles?" He warns that home charging is what makes EV ownership easy and fun. Restrict it, and fewer people will buy EVs. EV user Dimple Champawat adds a real-life twist: "Most buildings don’t have proper outlets or outdoor charging for EVs, so such restrictions hit customers hard." She also notes that malls are slowly adding more outdoor chargers, which is good news. Safety-wise, the draft suggests adding fire sprinklers, fire-rated walls, smoke curtains, and more safety tricks to protect everyone. But wait, BIS Director ArunKumar Saravanan explains, "This draft is advisory, not a strict rule. Local authorities can decide what works best for their area." The draft aims to help grow EV charging without risking fire or other dangers. Right now, the draft is just a guide. The BIS is listening to feedback from experts and EV industry players before making final decisions. So, will these rules slow down India’s EV boom? For now, it’s a wait-and-watch game with safety and convenience in balance.

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Tags: Electric vehicles, Ev charging, National building code, Bis, Fire safety, Urban infrastructure,