Rapid expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in India over the past three years, yet still having only one public charging station for every 235 electric vehicles available
India's electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure has experienced a significant surge from Financial Year (FY) 2022 to early FY2025, driven by a combination of government policies, growing EV adoption, and market dynamics.
The Indian government has been instrumental in this growth through schemes such as FAME-II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles), which allocated ₹11,500 crore towards demand incentives, funding public EV charging infrastructure, and the PM E-DRIVE scheme aimed at boosting commercial electric three-wheelers. Additionally, the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme incentivizes domestic manufacturing of batteries and EVs, helping to build the local ecosystem and reduce import dependence.
The growth in EV sales, particularly electric cars, has been substantial. For instance, electric car sales grew 52% year-on-year by mid-2025. The increasing sales volume of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), including SUVs and crossovers, necessitates expanded charging networks. In 2024, around 107,000 BEVs were sold, marking about 20% annual growth.
The shift from initial consumer tax benefits to building a widespread and reliable charging infrastructure is evident. The government and private stakeholders emphasize deploying fast and public charging stations to reduce range anxiety and improve convenience, which is vital for broader EV adoption.
The competitive financing market for EVs in India encourages more buyers, indirectly driving infrastructure demand as EV usage increases. Financial availability complements the government’s push, accelerating infrastructure investment.
This rapid expansion of India’s EV charging infrastructure has seen a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 72% over the three-year period from FY22 to FY25. As of early FY25, there are 26,367 public EV charging stations in India. However, the ratio of public EV charging stations to electric vehicles in India is currently one charger for every 235 EVs on the road, indicating a need for more balanced growth.
The Indian government has significantly stepped up efforts to boost public charging infrastructure across the country, recognizing the importance of a well-developed charging network to fully support the transition to electric mobility. The need for continued and faster development of EV charging stations has been highlighted to support the transition to electric mobility in India. The expansion of the EV charging network in India is essential to achieve a balanced growth in the EV sector in India.
References: [1] Ministry of Power, Government of India. (n.d.). FAME II Scheme. Retrieved from https://pip.nic.in/fame-ii/ [2] NITI Aayog. (2021, December 16). India's Journey to Electric Mobility - A Roadmap to 2030. Retrieved from https://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/document_publication/India_Journey_to_Electric_Mobility_A_Roadmap_to_2030_NITI_Aayog_December_2021.pdf [3] Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV). (2022, July 1). Electric Vehicle Sales in India in July 2022. Retrieved from https://www.smev.in/electric-vehicle-sales-in-india-in-july-2022/
- The growth in India's EV market has sparked debates among environmental-science and general-news experts, with many praising the government's initiatives for boosting the development of public charging infrastructure.
- Despite the significant progress in India's EV charging infrastructure, finance and technology analysts argue that a more balanced growth is needed to ensure the success of the country's transition to electric mobility in the long run.
- The increasing collaboration between the financial sector and government schemes, such as the FAME-II and PLI, in promoting EV adoption and infrastructure development has caught the attention of news outlets and technology publications, shaping the nation's environmental-science discourse.
