India is witnessing a rapid increase in the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). From scooters to cars, an increasing number of people are moving to green mobility with EVs. However, a surprising trend has emerged: EV owners in India are not using public charging stations as much as we expected.
Despite government investment and initiatives in the private sector for public charging stations within cities and on highways, utilization of public charged stations for EVs is not promising. This article will discuss the reasons for this pattern of EV owners not using public charges stations, the issues and challenges, and required actions to improve the availability, reliability, and usability of public charging for all users.
Most EV Owners Prefer Home Charging
The main reason behind low public charging usage is simply that most are charging their EVs at home. Home charging is convenient, simple and cheap. You only need a regular socket or a proper home charger.
For example, someone living in Delhi who has access to a dedicated parking space can easily install either a Level 1 or Level 2 charger and connect it when they park their vehicle overnight. They can wake up the next day to find their EV fully charged and ready to go. There is no waiting in line or worrying about a broken charger.
This is especially true for electric two and three-wheelers who have smaller batteries that require less energy. Survey’s indicate that more than 70% of EV charging is done at home in India which means that many people don’t need public charging for their daily use.
Public Charging Is Often Inconvenient
Despite nearly 26,000 public charging stations across India (as of March 2025), they operate at just 4% to 5% capacity, meaning each charger is used for only 2 hours daily on average. Even when public charging points are available, they often aren’t very convenient. EV owners report several common issues:
- Chargers are already in use or blocked by petrol/diesel cars.
- Poor maintenance leads to faulty or broken chargers.
- Lack of timely updates regarding the availability or state of a charger.
Imagine arriving at a public charging station after a long trip, only to find it occupied or not working. This frustrates users and makes them want to rely even more on home or work charging options.
Public Charging Can Be Expensive
Another reason why EV owners avoid public charging is cost. While home charging uses standard residential electricity tariffs (₹6 to ₹9 per unit), public charging at commercial stations can cost ₹18 to ₹25 per unit, or even more for fast chargers.
For daily commuters who charge regularly, this adds up. For instance:
- Charging a Tata Nexon EV at home may cost ₹300.
- Charging the same car at a public charging station may cost ₹600 or more.
This price difference discourages EV owners from using public charging, especially when cheaper options exist at home or at the office.
Limited Fast Charging Options
EV owners also prefer charging that’s quick and efficient. However, most public charging stations in India still use slower AC chargers. While they are fine for overnight charging, they aren’t practical for quick top-ups.
DC fast chargers, which can charge an EV in 30-60 minutes, are still rare and mainly found in metro cities or highways. In Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, public charging options are often too slow or not suitable for long-distance EV users.
This creates a mismatch between user needs and available infrastructure, pushing owners to avoid public charging unless absolutely necessary.
Lack of Trust in Public Charging Infrastructure
Many EV owners say they simply don’t trust public charging points. Frequent complaints include:
- Chargers not working
- Payment issues
- Lack of customer support
- Poor lighting or unsafe locations at night
Without reliability and safety, people hesitate to depend on public charging for their daily needs. Trust is key, especially for new EV users.
Battery Range Has Improved
Modern EVs offer much better range than before. For example:
- Tata Punch EV offers up to 421 km range.
- MG ZS EV offers up to 461 km.
- Simple One electric scooter offers up to 300+ km.
With this improved range, most EV users don’t need to charge every day. Many people can go several days or even a full week without needing a recharge. This reduces their dependence on public charging completely.
Planning Ahead Helps Avoid Public Charging
EV owners are becoming smarter about how they use their vehicles. They plan their routes and charging needs in advance. With apps like Statiq, Tata EZ Charge, or ChargeZone, users can find public charging stations—but only when they really need them.
People use public charging mainly for outstation trips, long drives, or emergencies. For regular city use, it’s simply not necessary if they can charge at home or work.
Limited Public Charging in Apartments
Many people in apartments and gated societies still struggle to get home chargers installed due to policy or wiring issues. Yet, even they don’t always use public charging stations. Instead, they often find alternative solutions:
- Installing slow chargers in parking areas
- Charging at nearby office complexes or malls
- Relying on workplace charging
This shows that the solution doesn’t always come from traditional public charging stations, but from shared or semi-private options.
Low Utilization Affects Growth of Public Charging
When public charging stations are underused, private companies face financial losses. Setting up and maintaining a charging station is costly. If not enough people use it, the station becomes unviable.
This is why many operators are now being more selective about where they install public charging stations. They prefer:
- High traffic locations like malls, airports, tech parks
- Highway rest stops and fuel stations
- Fleets and taxi hubs that ensure regular usage
New Models Like Battery Swapping Emerging
In India, especially for electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers, battery swapping is becoming popular. Companies like Bounce Infinity and Gogoro offer quick battery swaps in minutes.
This reduces the need for public charging infrastructure, especially for commercial or delivery vehicles. Instead of waiting 2-3 hours to charge, drivers can swap and go.
Battery swapping may not be a perfect solution for cars yet, but it is changing how people view public charging altogether.
Examples
- In Bangalore, many EV users prefer to charge at home and rarely use public charging, unless they’re doing a long trip to Mysore or Coorg.
- In Delhi NCR, users report high usage of chargers at malls like DLF Promenade or Ambience Mall, but low usage in standalone stations.
- In Hyderabad, companies like ChargeZone and Zeon are focusing on highway routes where demand for public charging is more predictable.
What Needs to Change?
To increase the use of public charging, India needs:
- More fast chargers in urban and intercity locations
- Transparent pricing and competitive tariffs
- Real-time app updates on charger availability and status
- Reliable maintenance to avoid downtime
- Better awareness about public charging locations and networks
Government Push and Private Innovation
The Indian government is already supporting the growth of public charging through schemes like:
- FAME II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles)
- State EV policies that subsidize chargers
- Land allocation for public charging infrastructure
Meanwhile, companies like Tata Power, Statiq, and BPCL are working to expand networks and improve uptime. Programs like ChargePoint’s Safeguard Care model in the West, where technicians regularly visit and inspect chargers, could be adopted in India to boost confidence.
Conclusion
In summary, public charging in India is still evolving. Most EV owners prefer home or private charging due to cost, convenience, and trust issues. Until infrastructure improves and becomes more user-friendly, public charging will remain a backup option rather than a primary one.
But with rising EV adoption and technological innovation, this situation may change. Building a reliable, fast, and widespread public charging network will be key to India’s clean mobility future.