Electric vehicles (EVs) are crucial to India’s decarbonization agenda with the target of EVs making up 30% of vehicle sales by 2030. However, the path to mass adoption is complicated by infrastructural barriers—particularly charging networks, energy accessibility, and standardization. The Ministry of Power states that India will need over 2.5 million charging stations to support this transition by 2030. Here is a way to close that gap strategically.
1. Expand Public Charging Networks Across Urban & Rural India
Why it matters: As per research from CEEW Centre for Energy Finance, 60% of EV owners are most concerned about the lack of public charging stations. Charging and refueling must be equally convenient.
Strategic Plan:
- Mandate charging stations on commercial properties and municipal parking lots.
- Include rural and semi-urban areas in roll-out plan to avoid disproportional EV ownership.
In India: For instance, is an example of Tata Power working with HPCL and Indian Oil to install chargers at gas stations across the country with a goal of over 25,000 by 2028.
Global best practice: To democratize infrastructure, China has installed over 1.2 million public chargers, of which most are in tier 2 and 3 cities.
2. Accelerate Battery Swapping Ecosystems
Why it matters: Significant outages of EV’s can be disruptive to logistics and production particularly for commercial users. Battery changing eliminates long charge times.
Strategic approach:
- Implement a battery standard for compatibility nationally
- Encourage swapping especially for 2Ws, 3Ws and small commercial vehicles.
India: Startups Battery Smart and SUN Mobility have scaled to over 20 cities across India and are working with OEMs like Piaggio and Hero Electric.
Policy update: The draft Battery Swapping Policy in 2022 is still pending finalisation due to interoperability issues however Delhi has developed more than 250 battery swap stations, the majority of which are for e-rickshaws and delivery fleets.
3. Make Cities EV-Ready with Urban Planning Integration
Why it matters: Cities need to be designed to prepare for a future where EVs will be the norm. This includes investing in upgraded infrastructure today.
Strategic Steps:
- Include EV infrastructure as part of city masterplans and RERA sanctioned projects.
- Require that all new residential or commercial buildings include wiring and space for EV readiness.
India: Mumbai’s new Development Control and Promotion Regulations require all new projects to provide for 20% of the parking to be ready for EVs.
Impact: The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that embedding into the original design may save over 40% of future retrofitting costs.
4. Power EVs with Clean, Renewable Energy
Why it matters: Electric vehicles (EVs) should be pollution-free from start to finish, and charging an EV with coal-based electricity undermines the advantages of being environmentally-friendly.
Strategic Approach:
- To urge all EV charging stations to utilize solar, particularly in high-sun areas, such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Telangana.
- Encourage charging stations to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to convert to green energy.
India: Cochin International Airport (CIAL) uses a completely solar EV charging facility and is additionally electrifying airline ground transportation. Delhi DISCOMs have a pricing structure called “Green EV Charging” for commercial charging stations that use solar electricity. Code guidelines issued by state grids in Karnataka and Gujarat provide up to 40% capital grants for solar-integrated EV stations.
A global example: The Netherlands mandates that all public chargers be sourced from 100% wind energy.
5. Establish Highway Fast-Charging Corridors
Why it matters: Without dependable fast charging infrastructure along the roadside it limits intercity travel.
Strategic Steps:
- Install at intervals of 25-50 km along the national highways;
- Establish rest stations with battery swappable or charge-take a break-meal-fix it opportunities.
India: The Ministry of Heavy Industries has sanctioned 22,000 EV chargers under FAME II in the national highways, such as the Delhi-Mumbai Motorway. E-Mobility Week 2025 in Hyderabad introduced new prototypes of corridors connecting major metros.
Private Sector Push: Ather Energy, “Ather Grid,” launched in 100+ cities focusing on high-speed corridors.
6. Boost Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for Infrastructure Investment
Why it matters: The scaling of infrastructure needs governmental support, commercial financing, and project execution time.
Opportunity to Partner:
- Allow allocation and clearances of land for private charging networks.
- Provide either viability gap funding (VGF) or a shared revenue payment model.
In India: Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) has invited bids from private companies to build 1,000 EV stations through a public-private partnership approach. State transport agencies are providing long-term lease options for EV infrastructure operations.
Global Inspiration: Norway has one of the densest networks in Europe acquired through PPP, where EV ownership exceeds 80%.
7. Promote Residential and Workplace Charging Access
Why it matters: Home and office charging accounts for approximately 80% of all EV charging, making these sites crucial.
Strategic Approach:
- Offer incentives on residential charger installations.
- Offer EV charging as a service to apartment complexes and IT parks.
India: BESCOM in Bengaluru, India, offers ₹5/kWh EV-specific prices for booking household chargers through an online interface.
Case Study: Many gated communities in Pune and Hyderabad have implemented MyGate-integrated EV chargers that can be tracked and billed directly through an app.
8. Enforce Standardization of Charging Connectors and Protocols
Why it matters: Compatibility issues create stranded EVs and frustrated users.
Strategic Actions:
- All new public chargers should be built to CCS2 (Combined Charging System) and Bharat DC001 specifications.
- Encourage open charging protocols (OCPP) to allow interoperability and software interoperability.
India Progress: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) issued regulations for AC and DC EV charging stations in the IS17017 series.
Global Example: The EU requires the same plug format (Type 2) for all EV chargers, which simplifies EV roaming between countries.
9. Create Tailored Incentives for Charging Infrastructure Development
Why it matters: EV chargers exhibit longer payback periods than cars. Incentives can help reduce financial risk at the early stages.
A strategic approach:
- Mainly use capital subsidies, tax incentives, and duty exemptions to charging equipment.
- Provide charging operators with concessional land and electricity tariffs (lower electricity costs).
India: Delhi amended their EV Policy (2024-2027) to offer private slow chargers up to ₹ 6,000 subsidy and will waive the fixed power prices to charging point operators (CPO).
A data point: IESA estimates that India needs approximately $180 billion in EV infrastructure investment by 2030, with strategic incentives being able to unlock private capital.
10. Modernize the Power Grid to Support EV Load
Why it matters: A sudden shift to using EVs could destabilise local grids, especially at peak time.
Strategic approach:
- Use smart meters and grid monitoring infrastructure to help manage EV load.
- Encourage V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) –EVs should also send power back to the grid.
India Pilot: Tata Power-DDL has installed over 2,000 smart meters to monitor EV charging in North Delhi to understand charging patterns and has initiated a time-of-use (ToU) tariff pilot to reduce load during peak time. Moreover, the Ministry of Power in India has endorsed some pilot V2G projects to study electric buses in Kerala and Maharashtra.
Example International Case: California offers Time-of-Use (ToU) pricing for EV owners to promote off-peak charging to reduce grid load during peak hours.
Final Thoughts: The Road Ahead
To achieve India’s EV dream, we also need to grow infrastructure at pace with vehicles. With the right regulations, investments, and public-private collaborative projects, India could achieve a complete EV infrastructure ecosystem that offers inclusivity, sustainability, and future-readiness.
By prioritizing these ten strategies, we can help stimulate EV adoption, as well as brand new green jobs, energy independence, and resilience in our cities.