First (1G) & Second (2G) Generation Stages
Evolution of NHEV Technical Trial Runs for Vehicle and Charging Infra Assessment
The National Highways for Electric Vehicles (NHEV) Pilot Program has progressed through three distinct generations of technical validation before entering the infrastructure development phase. Each Technical Trial Run served a different objective, gradually evolving from understanding electric vehicle operations on highways to establishing India’s first network of Third Generation (3G) Energy Stations.
2020 | First Generation (1G) Technical Trial Run I – Delhi to Agra
The First Generation (1G) stage represented India’s initial assessment of electric mobility on National Highways.
At this stage, conventional highway infrastructure primarily consisted of Petrol and Diesel dispensing stations. The objective of Technical Trial Run I was not infrastructure development, but to evaluate electric vehicle operations, charging behaviour, route planning, charging frequency, and utilization requirements on National Highways and Expressways.
Charging infrastructure required for the trial was temporarily deployed by NHEV partners solely for conducting the pilot.
Infrastructure Commitment Status
- No infrastructure commitment was made to any partner.
- No 3G Energy Station development framework existed.
- Participation was limited to technical assessment of EV mobility.
2022 | Second Generation (2G) Technical Trial Run II – Delhi to Jaipur
The Second Generation (2G) stage expanded the assessment by evaluating commercial feasibility and introducing limited sample charging infrastructure alongside the existing Petrol, Diesel and comparatively cleaner CNG ecosystem.
Technical Trial Run II focused on understanding commercial vehicle operations, charging utilization patterns, business viability and infrastructure requirements required for future highway electrification.
Although selected sample infrastructure was demonstrated by NHEV partners during the pilot, this remained a technical and commercial assessment exercise only.
Infrastructure Commitment Status
- No commitment for construction or deployment of 3G Energy Stations was made to participating partners.
- Infrastructure demonstrated during the trial was only for assessment purposes.
- The future 3G Energy Station network had not yet been approved for implementation.
2022 | Unveiling of the 3rd Generation (3G) Energy Station
Following the successful completion of Technical Trial Run II, the concept of the NHEV Third Generation (3G) Energy Station was unveiled for the first time by Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India.
The unveiling established the vision of an integrated multi-energy highway ecosystem capable of serving passenger vehicles, buses, freight vehicles and future clean mobility technologies through a single energy hub.
2024 | Third Generation (3G) Technical Trial Run III – Chennai to Trichy
Technical Trial Run III marked the transition from mobility assessment to infrastructure validation.
Unlike the earlier trial runs, the objective was to assess the operational, technical and commercial viability of the complete Third Generation (3G) Energy Station model capable of supporting electric passenger vehicles, buses and heavy-duty electric trucks.
This trial established the implementation framework for the nationwide deployment of 3G Energy Stations.
Infrastructure Commitment Status
- This was the first stage where infrastructure commitments were extended to NHEV partners.
- Partners onboarded after the successful completion of Technical Trial Run III became eligible to participate in the implementation and development of the 3G Energy Station network.
- While partners associated with the 1G and 2G stages did not receive any infrastructure commitment during those phases, the Piloting Agency may, at its discretion, extend participation opportunities to such partners under the 3G implementation programme.
December 2025 | Construction Award
Following the successful completion of Technical Trial Run III and the establishment of the implementation framework, NHEV awarded the work for development and construction of the Third Generation (3G) Energy Station network to a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), NHEV Greenways Private Limited.
This marked the formal commencement of India’s first dedicated 3G Energy Station infrastructure programme.
April 2026 | Commencement Phase
After a three-month planning and assessment period, NHEV Greenways entered the execution phase for construction of the Third Generation (3G) Energy Station network across approximately 5,500 kilometres of National Highways and Expressways.
This milestone transformed the NHEV Pilot Program from technical validation into full-scale infrastructure implementation, establishing the foundation for India’s next-generation electric highway ecosystem.
Generational Infra Evolution Timeline
| Generation | Technical Trial Run |
Primary Objective | Infra Commitment to Partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1G (2020) | Delhi–Agra | EV operational assessment and charging requirement analysis | No |
| 2G (2022) | Delhi–Jaipur | Commercial assessment and sample infrastructure validation | No |
| 3G Concept (2022) | 3G Energy Station unveiled | National infrastructure vision announced | Not Applicable |
| 3G (2024) | Chennai–Trichy | Validation of complete 3G Energy Station ecosystem | Yes – First infrastructure commitment after successful Technical Trial Run III |
| Implementation (December 2025 onwards) |
Construction Award & Commencement | Nationwide deployment of 3G Energy Stations | Active implementation by NHEV Greenways SPV |
