One Charger, 235 EVs: Is India’s Green Drive Running on Empty?

Image Source : Electronics For You BUSINESS

India's electric vehicle (EV) revolution is well underway, but its charging infrastructure is yet to catch up. According to a recent report by CareEdge Ratings, public EV charging stations have grown fivefold in three years, but the country still has just one public charger for every 235 EVs.

Key points:

Public charging points for EVs increased from 5,151 in CY22 to 26,367 in early FY25, a compound annual growth rate of 72%.
In spite of this growth, the chargertovehicle ratio is still imbalanced, indicating a clear infrastructure shortage.
Government policies and EV policies such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme have driven expansion.

Infrastructure snapshot:

The rise is a sign of strong policy support, with state and central governments leading the adoption of EVs.
Major minerals duty relief and battery manufacturing incentives will be expected to reduce import reliance by 20% by FY27.
However, uptake of EVs has been outpacing deployment of infrastructure, causing range anxiety as well as consumer convenience issues.

Prospects:

Faster installation of charging points is recommended by experts to keep pace with the increasing number of EVs, particularly in Tier2 and Tier3 cities.
Fair growth is a priority to enable India's electric mobility shift and achieve its 2030 sustainability goals.

Even as the momentum is evident, it will be closing the infrastructure gap that will keep India's EV aspirations.

Sources: Economic Times, Mint, S&P Global Mobility.