India’s electric vehicle (EV) revolution will soar rapidly in 2025 driven by policies of the government, growing climate change worries, and growing technology. With initiatives like FAME II, state subsidy, and tax incentives, consumers and businesses alike are being encouraged to switch to electric. EV sales have taken off across segments, pointing to a clean mobility commitment at the national level. But as charging infrastructure expands, there are some very serious safety and cybersecurity concerns that must be the top priority in order to create a safe and reliable environment.
The Changing EV Scenario in India
The Indian market experienced its exponential growth in EV adoption during the year 2024 with the sale of more than 2 million electric vehicles during the same time. The government’s drive towards the green revolution has also resulted in the establishment of over 100,000 public charging stations throughout the country. This dramatic expansion is a good thing, but it has exposed some issues of the charging infrastructure.
Safety Concerns: Physical Hazards and Electric Hazards
Fire and Electric Hazards
There have been some recent incidents that have caused major concern regarding the risk of fires in EV charging stations. Following a fire accident in Rajkot in May 2024, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) began checking EV charging points and found that there were different charging points which did not possess safety devices like surge protection devices or ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI).
Regulatory Oversight
The lack of any form of standards for the installation and maintenance of EV charging stations has created significant concern. Authorities stated the need for certified electricians to install and maintain EV chargers and the requirement of regular inspections to maintain the integrity of safety processes.
Cybersecurity Risks: A Growing Challenge to Charging Infrastructure Vulnerabilities
Cyberattacks on EV charging stations are ever-growing. The inclusion of digital payments and connectivity capabilities has made stations susceptible to several cyber threats.
Typical attack vectors include:
- Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks: This happens when networks are flooded such that services are disrupted.
- Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: The attacker takes over interactions between the car and charging point to steal data or interact with transactions.
- Malware and Ransomware: Computer software that infects machines and prevents them from operating unless a ransom is paid.
- Data Breaches: Unauthorized access of personal user data, such as payment information, is known as data breach.
Acknowledgment by the Government
The Indian government has recognized these cybersecurity issues. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways accepted that EV charging stations are vulnerable to a cyber-attack in a statement to Parliament. To mitigate these risks, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In_) has been routinely publishing advisories and alerts.
Standards and Technological Solutions
Open Charge Points Protocol (OCPP)
In large part, Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) has standardised the communication between central management systems and EV charging stations. The current version, OCPP 2.1, was released in January 2025 and expands upon the existing security features to include things like Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) features and Distributed Energy Resource (DER) control.
ISO 15118 Standard
ISO 15118 is an international standard that provides a vehicle-to-grid communication interface for EV charging and discharging in both directions. It enhances user convenience and security by providing smart charging, secure communications, and the “Plug & Charge” feature.
Blockchain Technology
Blockchain offers a secure and decentralized platform for addressing issues of EV charging station cybersecurity. It decreases the chance of unauthorized access and data alteration by providing immutable record keeping, better authentication, and authorization.
To ensure safety and consistency in EV charging infrastructure, the government has issued several key regulations and guidelines, important ones include:
1. BIS Standards for EV Charging
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has set out performance and safety requirements for EV chargers:
IS 17017 Series: The Bureau of Indian Standards has its Indian version of IEC 61851 IS 17017 series. The Indian version provides minimum “basic” requirements for connectors, cables, DC/AC charging systems, etc.
IS 17017-25 (2023): Newly revised to aid in supporting powerful rapid chargers for larger cars and made to conform with International standards.
2. Ministry of Power Guidelines (2022; updated 2023)
Issued by the Ministry of Power via the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Central Electric Authority (CEA):
- Public Charging Stations (PCS) do not require a license.
- Chargers and component safety certificates required.
- All public chargers must follow electrical and fire safety guidelines.
Fast chargers must meet technical requirements to include:
- Type 2 AC, CCS2 (for four-wheelers), and CHAdeMO.
- Bharat EV Charger specifications (for legacy support).
3. Fire Safety Regulation at the State Level
States such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu now require:
Approval from state fire services/ departments for the PCS to be set up.
Fire assessors, earth leakage protection, etc.
Ventilation for enclosed areas of EV charging needs to be organized as per standards required.
4. Cybersecurity Advisory (CERT-In & MoRTH, 2024–2025)
Road Transport & Highways Ministry (MoRTH) officially admitted in Parliament that the cybersecurity threat was real.
Charging networks are mandated to comply with CERT-In advisories:
- Encrypted communication protocols.
- Secure authentication to use access.
- Regular firmware and security updates for chargers.
There are now EV charging standards for new buildings under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA):
- In residential and commercial buildings EV-ready parking must comprise at least 20% of available parking.
- Safety requirements must comply to the regulations of the CEA and local authority for electrical installations.
Best Practices to Enhance Security and Safety
- Periodic Review: Periodically review charging points for adherence to safety standards.
- Certified Installations: Be charged and serviced by charging equipment only by qualified personnel.
- Software Updates: Enforce secure over-the-air (OTA) updates in order to rapidly find and fix faults.
- Consumer Awareness: Educate consumers about potential hazards and promote safe charging.
- Work Together with Cybersecurity Experts: Work together with cybersecurity experts to implement strong cyber defense against future attacks.
In conclusion
While India strives to transition into an electrified and green mobility transportation future, ensuring the safety and cyber-security of EV charging stations is an essential consideration. Through embracing smart technology, normalized processes, and inter-stakeholder collaboration, India can achieve a secure and solid EV network that will lead it to achieving its green mobility ambitions.