Accelerating EV Adoption: The Critical Role of Public Charging Infrastructure

Recent trends reveal a slowdown in electric vehicle (EV) sales globally mismatch between demand and supply. In India, EV sales declined by seven per cent year-on-year seen by the registration data maintained by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. According to Goldman Sachs, factors such as high capital costs, regulatory uncertainty, and limited fast-charging infrastructure contribute to this downturn globally.

Why is public EV charging infrastructure important?

As of February 2024, India has over 12000 operational public charging stations. A widely accepted benchmark is one charging station per 20 to 150 EVs. With over 1.3 million electric vehicles on Indian roads and a government target of 30 per cent electric vehicle sales by 2030 (equivalent to around 80 million EVs), the country will require about 4 million charging stations.

According to JMK Research and Analytics, the current ratio—32 EVs per charging station—hinders EV adoption. Home charging remains a popular option, but its feasibility depends on having a permanent parking space, which varies by socio-geographical factors. According to a McKinsey survey Indian consumers are equally inclined towards public and home charging, especially for electric four-wheelers (E4Ws). However, the insufficient availability of public infrastructure often discourages EV purchases.

For commercial and heavy-duty vehicles, strategically placed fast chargers are critical to decarbonizing freight and transport. The government’s revised FAME II guidelines now mandate one charging station every 3 kilometres in cities and every 25 kilometres along highways to ensure greater accessibility. The growing demand for E4Ws, especially in shared mobility (e.g., taxis, fleets), underscores the need for robust public infrastructure for top-up charging. The rise of the gig economy, driven by electric two- and three-wheelers (E2Ws and E3Ws), also highlights the need for more accessible charging stations.

Challenges hindering EV charging infrastructure

Despite policy efforts under FAME II to reduce regulatory barriers and provide subsidies, India’s charging infrastructure remains behind global standards. Operational public charging stations are concentrated in a few states like Maharashtra, Delhi, and Karnataka, which benefit from favourable state-specific EV policies. Even in these states, the ratio of public charging stations to EVs falls short of the recommended 1:20.

The type and placement of charging stations depend on various factors such as urbanization patterns, EV type, and terrain, making it a complex issue. Unlike fuel stations, public EV charging stations require a significant area of land, adequate electricity supply, and higher maintenance and operational costs. While home charging is more affordable, its long-term viability is uncertain due to concerns about grid stability and limited residential space.

As the push for charging heavy duty vehicles increases with electrification of public buses and medium and heavy commercial vehicles, robust charging infrastructure becomes critical. In long distance transportation the paucity of public charging infrastructure in rural areas coupled with uneven power supply putting load on the grid places significant risks. Even in urban areas the space constraints with multiplicity of charging standards hinders large scale electrification of public transportation particularly buses.

Opportunities for expanding EV charging infrastructure

To meet its target of 30 percent EV sales by 2030, India needs to expand its charging infrastructure, requiring around 3.9 million charging stations by that time. Streamlining the current fragmented institutional framework and close coordination between agencies overseeing regulations, standards, and policy implementation is essential for efficient EV infrastructure development. needs to improve. A national-level institutional framework, replicable at state and city levels, can set realistic targets and ensure effective monitoring.

On the infrastructure front, quick wins can accelerate progress. For example, mandating EV charging stations in new residential and commercial developments, retrofitting existing spaces, and incentivizing petrol pump operators to add EV charging facilities could make a significant impact. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) or viability gap funding could reduce the high capital costs of establishing public charging stations and encourage private sector participation.

Way forward

Decarbonizing India’s transportation sector is key to achieving the country’s net-zero emissions goal by 2070. Boosting EV adoption across various segments requires addressing the current gap in charging infrastructure, reducing costs, and optimizing station placement.

State governments must take a leading role in EV infrastructure planning, as land use and spatial planning are their responsibilities. City development plans should reflect EV charging needs, integrating geospatial analysis and urbanization trends. Ensuring grid stability and involving DISCOMs in planning will also be critical to prevent overloads and maintain reliable service.

India has already made significant progress through policies like FAME I and II, and incentives such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme towards electrification of road vehicles. These initiatives align with the country’s national commitments to reduce carbon emissions and carbon intensity. With improved and matching public charging infrastructure the country has an opportunity to lead in building a resilient and scalable EV ecosystem internationally.

About Sonal Singh: Sonal Singh is a Research Associate at the Transport and Urban Governance Division, TERI. With over 2-years of professional experience, her expertise lies in addressing thematic areas such as participatory governance, community engagement, climate-sensitive urban planning, transit-oriented development, and socio-economic impact assessment. She holds a Masters in Urban Policy and Governance from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and a Bachelor of Technology degree in Electronics and Telecommunication from Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Bhubaneswar.