India’s journey toward achieving over 30% electrification by 2030 will require Rs 16,000 crore in capital expenditure (capex) for public charging infrastructure, as outlined in the ‘FICCI EV Public Charging Infrastructure Roadmap 2030’ report. The report recommends prioritizing 40 key cities and 20 highway stretches based on electric vehicle (EV) sales data from 2015 to 2023-24. These cities, identified for their current EV adoption rates and supportive state policies, are projected to see higher EV penetration within the next 3-5 years. The 20 highway stretches connecting these cities account for 50% of India’s vehicular traffic.
Despite growing EV adoption, the financial viability of public charging stations in India remains low, with utilization rates under 2%. To achieve profitability and scalability, utilization needs to rise to 8-10% by 2030. Drawing from Germany’s example, the report highlights that an economically viable charging network can be developed with 5-10% utilization in cities and over 16% on highways. Collaborative planning with local authorities is essential to identify ideal charging station locations.
The report also underscores several challenges hindering the expansion of charging infrastructure. These include financial hurdles such as high infrastructure costs, low utilization rates, and operational issues like inconsistent power supply and lack of standardized protocols for interoperability. High fixed electricity tariffs in some states exacerbate the problem, making it difficult for public charging stations to break even. While states like Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Gujarat have implemented low or zero fixed tariffs, others face higher costs, threatening business viability.
FICCI calls for coordinated action from policymakers, industry leaders, and government bodies to drive India’s clean energy transition. The report emphasizes implementing the Ministry of Power’s latest guidelines uniformly across states and establishing state-level cells with representatives from industry and government to oversee charging infrastructure development.
