India is accelerating its transition toward sustainable mobility, with electric vehicles (EVs) as a key driver. EV retail sales crossed 89,000 units in CY 2024, marking a 22% increase from the previous year—demonstrating the nation’s commitment to cleaner transportation. This rapid adoption underscores the growing need for a strong and accessible charging infrastructure to meet the target of 30% EV penetration by 2030.
The growth in EV adoption is matched by an exponential rise in public charging stations, with the network expanding nearly nine-fold, increasing from 1,800 in early 2022 to over 16,000 by November 2024. Collaborative efforts by public and private players are laying the groundwork for a sustainable, EV-centric future.
Navigating the Chicken-and-Egg Dilemma
The interplay between EV adoption and charging infrastructure represents a classic chicken-and-egg challenge. Various case studies show that dense and convenient charging infrastructure is a pre-requisite for driving EV adoption. Conversely, growth in charging infrastructure too has resulted in exponential growth in EV adoption. States like Delhi NCR, Kerala, and Karnataka illustrate this correlation.
Despite progress, EV owners face hurdles. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) often deny installation permissions due to misinformation, while the placement and reliability of public chargers impact convenience. Addressing these gaps is crucial to enhancing the EV experience and encouraging adoption.
Bridging Gaps: Expanding the Reach of Charging Infrastructure
That said, India’s transition to electric mobility continues to gain momentum with the introduction of innovative policies and infrastructural advancements, which by improving the overall user experience is leading to an increase in adoption of electrification.
Data has shown ~93% EV owners tend to charge their EV at their home or office premises. Challenges such as the lack of covered charging spaces or navigating complex procedures, such as obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and load enhancements from Distribution Companies (DISCOMs), to set up charging points, are being overcome with the growth of the community chargers at key locations to enable EV owners to charge their vehicle hassle-free.
Tier II and III cities are increasingly adopting EVs, driven by initiatives like the ₹10,900 crore PM E-DRIVE Scheme, which aims to install 22,100 fast chargers by March 2026. Complementing this, the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana promotes rooftop solar systems, enabling renewable energy integration with charging stations to lower costs, reduce grid dependency, and create a more inclusive EV ecosystem.
Keeping Pace: Balancing EV Adoption and Charging Demand
India’s ambitious EV goals, backed by concerted efforts from central and state governments, are driving remarkable growth in the sector. Reports predict that India could see annual EV sales soar to 1 million by 2030, with over 2 million EVs on the road, a 10 fold increase from today. To enable this fast growth, EV charging infrastructure should also keep pace, expanding 10 fold within the next 6 years.
Addressing this challenge, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s (BEE) action plan for the deployment of 46,397 public charging stations (PCSs) by 2030. This strategic initiative ensures that urban centers are equipped to handle the surge in EVs while also serving as hubs to influence surrounding regions. Innovations like superfast chargers and renewable energy-integrated systems are poised to make EV ownership more efficient and reliable.
Towards a Connected Nation: Together Achieving Saturation and Beyond
India’s EV ecosystem thrives on collaboration. Automakers, energy providers, and charging solution companies are working together to build a seamless network. The sector has seen significant investments from both private and public players. Earlier, the government had allocated ₹800 crore for charging infrastructure alone in the FAME programs, seeding charging infrastructure across the country.
While the introduction of community chargers and portable chargers reflects India’s innovative approach to overcoming infrastructure challenges, there needs to be a stronger involvement by the Government by enacting laws that enable “Right to Charge”, which guarantees residents the right to install home chargers in private parking spaces and mandate the availability of public chargers at strategic locations.
Urban areas are approaching saturation in charge point availability, shifting the focus to intercity routes and under-connected regions. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is ensuring 81% of highways have at least one charger every 50 km.
As leader of the Indian EV market, TATA.ev has installed over 700 DC and AC fast chargers at dealer outlets across more than 250 cities and towns. Furthermore, through its “Open Collaboration” framework, the company has played a pivotal role in developing India’s charging network by signing MOUs with leading CPOs to install over 10,000 charging points by 2025. In the next step towards improving the visibility of charging infrastructure and enhancing the overall customer experience, TATA.ev is working towards building a dependable charging network that caters to a wide audience. This includes current EV owners, fence-sitters, and potential buyers—starting with a strong focus on top EV markets before expanding nationwide..
These solutions enable EV owners who do not have access to a parking space to also charge effortlessly – thereby improving their experience of using an EV and driving positive word of mouth to drive adoption.
Conclusion
India’s growing charging infrastructure is propelling the nation toward sustainable mobility. By 2030, with over 2 million EVs projected on Indian roads, robust charging networks will be essential.
The government and private sector’s commitment today is setting the stage for a greener, cleaner tomorrow, ensuring India’s EV revolution leads to a sustainable future.
