The Government of India has released detailed operational guidelines for the rollout of 72,300 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the country under the ambitious PM E-DRIVE scheme, aimed at accelerating EV adoption and building a robust national charging ecosystem.
Subsidies to Boost Public EV Charging Infrastructure
As per the guidelines, government offices, hospitals, residential colonies, and educational institutions will be eligible for a 100% subsidy on upstream infrastructure and charging equipment, provided chargers are kept open for public access.
For railway stations, airports, bus depots, metro stations, toll plazas, oil company outlets, and municipal parking spaces, the government will provide an 80% subsidy for infrastructure and a 70% subsidy for charging equipment. Shopping malls, markets, and roadside facilities along national highways and motorways will also benefit from similar support.
In addition, battery swapping stations set up in eligible areas will receive an 80% subsidy on upstream infrastructure costs, making the EV ecosystem more versatile and accessible.
Implementation Strategy and Oversight
The rollout will be overseen by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), which has been designated as the Project Implementation Agency (PIA). Eligible state and central agencies must appoint nodal bodies to aggregate demand, identify priority sites, and submit proposals through a centralised portal.
Subsidy disbursement will occur in two phases, linked to performance benchmarks and compliance. Priority locations include cities with over one million populations, state capitals, smart cities, metro-connected satellite towns, and high-traffic transport corridors.
Driving India’s EV Transition
This initiative under PM E-DRIVE directly addresses challenges such as range anxiety, charging availability, and infrastructure costs, helping accelerate EV adoption among both private and commercial users. By ensuring wide geographic coverage and accessible charging points, the government aims to strengthen confidence in India’s growing EV ecosystem and move closer to its net-zero mobility goals.
Leadership Quote
Mr Pulkit Khurana, Co-Founder and CEO, Battery Smart, states
“By backing both battery swapping and charging infrastructure under the PM E-Drive scheme, the Government has taken a decisive step to mainstream EV adoption. This approach cuts infrastructure costs and extends reliable, affordable energy access beyond metros into semi-urban and emerging markets. For operators, it lowers barriers to scale, and for millions of drivers, it ensures seamless, cost-effective mobility. At Battery Smart, with 1,600+ stations across 50 cities enabling 90Million+ swaps, we’ve already proven the model’s potential and remain committed to making EV adoption accessible, affordable, and inclusive nationwide.”