The Real State of EV Charging in India — Are We Ready Yet?

Just a few years ago, spotting an electric vehicle on Indian roads felt like seeing the future roll by. Today, that future is everywhere — zipping past in the form of silent scooters, stylish SUVs, and smart hatchbacks. But there’s one question every EV owner still faces: “Where do I charge this thing?”

The Growing Pains of a Revolution

Take Arvind, a tech professional in Pune who bought a Tata Nexon EV in 2023. “The first week felt magical — instant torque, no fuel bills, zero noise,” he says. “But by week two, I was spending more time on PlugShare than on Instagram.”
His issue? Pune had only a handful of fast chargers, most of them either occupied, out of service, or hidden inside gated communities.

Across India, thousands of new EV owners share Arvind’s story. While EV sales have surged — crossing over 1.5 million registered vehicles — public charging infrastructure is still lagging behind. As of 2025, India has roughly 13,000 operational public chargers, mostly concentrated in metro cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.

The Metro–Non-Metro Divide

In Delhi, you can find a charger every few kilometres — thanks to the state’s proactive policy and partnerships with companies like Statiq and Tata Power EZ Charge. But drive out to Tier-2 cities like Coimbatore, Indore, or Madurai, and the convenience fades.

Rural India, where many EV two-wheelers are now being sold, is even more underserved. Most owners rely on slow home charging — plugging into a wall socket overnight. It works for scooters, but not for cars.

Who’s Plugging the Gap

The good news is that India’s charging scene is finally catching up — powered by startups, energy companies, and even fuel giants. BPCL’s eDrive, Reliance Jio-BP, and Tata Power are turning petrol pumps into multi-energy hubs with DC fast chargers.

Meanwhile, new-age players like ChargeZone and Bolt.Earth are installing smart, app-controlled charging points in malls, tech parks, and housing societies. Even Zomato and BluSmart fleets are helping map and share private charging points to make them public.

Still, accessibility remains the biggest hurdle. Most apartment residents can’t install chargers because of parking layout issues or housing society approvals.

The Government’s Push

Under the FAME II scheme and state EV policies, central and state governments have started offering incentives for charger installation. The Ministry of Power has also set targets for one public charger every 3 km in cities and every 25 km on highways.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is already working on electrifying key routes like the Delhi–Chandigarh and Mumbai–Pune expressways with multiple charging points. But until there’s uniform access across the map, EV owners will still plan drives with one eye on the battery gauge.

The Road Ahead

Experts say India’s next big leap isn’t just about selling more EVs — it’s about building confidence. For that, we need chargers that are reliable, accessible, and standardized. Imagine pulling into any charging station — regardless of brand or plug type — and juicing up in minutes.

That’s the dream. And with public–private partnerships expanding fast, it’s getting closer every year.

For now, Arvind still checks his PlugShare map before long drives — but he’s optimistic. “It’s like the early days of mobile phones,” he smiles. “Coverage was patchy at first. But now look where we are. The same thing will happen with EVs.”

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