Public EV Chargers: Expanding Access To India's Charging Infrastructure

In India, EVs are gaining popularity as they offer cleaner, greener, and more sustainable modes of transportation.

By Dr Anshul Gupta

The dawn of the 21st century has brought seismic changes not only in people's personal but also in their professional lives. This is where, in response to changing climate conditions and increasing CO2 emissions, electric vehicles emerged as a blessing in disguise. Today, with the robust adoption of EVs, India's automobile industry has become the fifth largest in the world and is poised to reach third position by 2030. As per the Mordor Intelligence report, the Indian electric vehicle market is expected to register a CAGR of 23.76 per cent by 2028. 

In India, EVs are gaining popularity as they offer cleaner, greener, and more sustainable modes of transportation. Despite these advantages, the sector faces a fundamental challenge: a lack of charging infrastructure availability. Because a robust charging infrastructure is critical to increasing and broad adoption of EVs in India. As a result, the government and corporate sectors have launched projects and implemented solutions to address the issues and expand access to charging infrastructure. So, let's delve into the importance of charging infrastructure, as well as the problems and efforts to enhance access to charging infrastructure in India. 

Importance Of Charging Infrastructure

With technological advancements and the transition from ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) to electric vehicles, the industry has made significant strides in raising awareness about e-mobility. However, the necessity for charging infrastructure, including charging stations and battery swapping, remained a key obstacle to the mass adoption of EVs in India. As a result, there is an urgent need for adequate charging stations across the country, taking traffic and population density into account. 

Since its inception, the charging ecosystem has been slow to grow; nevertheless, with substantial efforts in recent years, the number of public-private charging stations has increased fivefold. Charging stations have become important in promoting economic growth. Installing and maintaining charging stations create job opportunities, reducing the use of fossil fuels, energy consumption, and expenses. Moreover, utilisation reduces the carbon footprint, which benefits the environment. 

Public charging stations are essential in promoting and widespread acceptance of EVs, allowing consumers to travel longer distances and making it a viable transportation option. Furthermore, charging infrastructure can assist in reducing the total ownership cost of EVs by avoiding the need for customers to invest in an expensive charging station or worry about the availability of public charging stations. As a result, it is safe to conclude that charging stations have become increasingly indispensable in recent years, not only for encouraging economic growth and reducing environmental circumstances but also for significantly broadening the adoption of EVs across the country. 

Challenges Faced By EV Charging Infrastructure

Despite the importance of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, its development and implementation face several problems. In this context, the first challenge is the lack of standardisation in charging stations. There are different types of charging stations and charging times and power may vary depending on the type of charger. This lack of standardisation confuses EV users and makes it difficult to travel. Furthermore, one of the significant drawbacks is the expensive installation and maintenance cost, as the entire procedure needs substantial financial expenditure. This is where, exorbitant fees dissuade various private organisations, resulting in slowing down installation. Additionally, there needs to be more awareness among individuals regarding the power of charging stations and electric vehicles.

Solutions: Paving the Way for Future

Standardisation & Subsidies: Standardisation has emerged as a top-priority option in order to avoid any confusion. Implementing a unified protocol can assist in addressing compatibility issues and ensuring that the infrastructure satisfies the needs of customers and producers. In addition, the government should provide subsidies and incentives to investors to encourage them to engage in infrastructure development.

Government Initiatives: Given the lack of awareness and steady growth, the government has launched several efforts to boost production and EV adoption. National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 (NEMMP), Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME), FAME Phase II, and other initiatives are part of the program. Furthermore, the Ministry of Power issued revised guidelines and regulations for EV charging infrastructure to encourage the manufacture and usage of electric vehicles in the country. With the significant increase in public EV charging infrastructure, electric vehicles will further penetrate the Indian market in the direction of growth. 

Private-Public Partnership: In order to grow and establish their name in this competitive era, various private organisations appeared at the fore with end-to-end e-mobility solutions ranging from EVs to EV Battery Swapping & Charging Infrastructure. In fact, it is undeniably true that partnership is the key to success. This is where the private sector organisation started working with the government to identify suitable locations for charging stations and provide the necessary funding for the installation and maintenance of the stations. Thus, a private-public partnership emerged as a critical solution to developing charging infrastructure.

All Things Considered

Ever since the adoption of EVs has gained great prominence, the future of charging infrastructure in India looks promising. According to Mordor Intelligence, the India electric vehicle charging stations market is expected to grow with a CAGR of around 25 per cent during the forecast period 2019-2028. In fact, India is making great strides in improving access to public EV chargers, but with several trends and development, a few challenges need to be addressed. This is where to mitigate the challenges, the government measures, in conjunction with business sector participation and technology improvements, are establishing the groundwork for a robust public charging infrastructure. A broad and ubiquitous charging network will promote electric vehicle adoption and help India achieve its long-term development goals. As a result, India will expedite its transition to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable transportation future by tackling the issues and continuing to invest in charging infrastructure.

(The author is the Managing Director at Okaya EV)

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