Which States In India Have The Most EV Public Charging Stations & Why?

With the government & industry aggressive on the increased usage of electric vehicles across the country, it is vital to know the status of charging station infrastructure in various states. The government is promoting the manufacture & usage of EVs across India and is also encouraging all stakeholders by way of incentives. As of December 16, there were 1028 public electric vehicle chargers installed throughout the country. (Figures obtained from an answer by Ministry of Power in Lok Sabha on 16 December 2021).

State governments have also been offering subsidies & incentives to EV manufacturers and charging infrastructure developers to accelerate the creation of a complete ecosystem for electric vehicles. Let’s have a look at the top 5 states with the most number of charging stations:

1. DELHI

The national capital has emerged as India’s electric vehicle epicentre with 322 charging stations (as of 16 December 2021).

Delhi Government’s comprehensive EV policy has encouraged both demand and ecosystem development. The Transport Department of the Delhi Government stated that EV sales in Delhi were six times higher than in the rest of the country. The share of EVs in Delhi has risen to 9% in the last quarter of 2021 as against the all-India average of 1.6%. To cater to these numbers, the charging infrastructure is also the largest in India. The Delhi government has set a target for EVs to account for 25% of sales by 2024. Delhi also became the first state in India to fully exempt road tax & registration fees for all new EVs registered.

The state government has set up a database with details of the network of EV charging stations on its website Delhi EV Govt. 

2. UTTAR PRADESH

Uttar Pradesh has the 2nd highest number of EV charging stations in the country. There are 108 charging stations in the state installed & running. UP ranked the highest among all states in the number of EV registrations with a 20% share in overall EV sales across India in November 2021. The biggest driver of EV sales in UP is electric three-wheelers (mostly e-rickshaws). Speaking at an event in Lucknow, the Chief Minister of the state-directed state officials to provide loans to diesel auto-rickshaw owners to buy e-rickshaws and emphasized the need for making e-rickshaw drivers follow traffic rules, training for drivers and fixing their routes.

In June 2019, UP became the first state to invite ‘expressions of interest’ (EOI) from companies to set up EV charging stations.

Despite being 2nd on this list, one must take into consideration the fact that UP is the most populous state in India and very large geographically as well. So, a well-spread charging network is vital for the success of the EV revolution in the state.

3. TAMIL NADU

Tamil Nadu comes in at 3rd with 94 public charging stations. Although the figure at 3rd nationally and around 12% of the electric vehicles in the country are on TN roads, there are not enough charging stations. In 2021, the sale of EVs in the state saw a 400% increase, mainly due to the unprecedented hike in petrol prices. TN currently is the 7th highest in the country in the number of battery-operated vehicles.

Union Heavy Industries ministry has sanctioned 650 charging stations for Tamil Nadu under FAME 2. The charging stations are mostly in the urban areas because there are not enough EVs in remote towns which require a denser charging network.

4. MAHARASHTRA

Maharashtra is 4th on the list with 88 public charging stations. The state government’s EV policy aims at achieving a 10% share of total registrations by 2025.

The state is targeting setting up 2500 charging stations in and around seven urban cities in the next 4 years. Mumbai based Magenta group set up the country’s largest public EV charging station in Navi Mumbai.

The state government has offered an additional concessional rate of Rs.4.50 per unit for non-peak hours (between 10 PM-6 AM). Maharashtra saw a rise of 153% in new EV registrations in 2021. The total EVs registered so far in Maharashtra is just below 60,000 and likely to cross a lakh in a few months.

5. TELANGANA

As per the ministry of power, Telangana has 65 installed & running charging stations throughout the state. A majority of these are in the capital city Hyderabad and are set up at metro stations. More stations are being planned in Hyderabad and other cities such as Warangal, Karimnagar & Khammam.

In 2016, there were just 25 electric vehicles in Hyderabad which has increased to 10,000 in 2021. State officials credit their EV policy and a spike in fuel prices as the main drivers of EV sales in Telangana. Authorities are planning to set up 600 EV charging stations in the state in the next 3 years, with 250 in Hyderabad alone. These are being set up by EESL & NTPC.

Figures given by Ministry of Power in Lok Sabha on 16 December, 2012:

(Images taken from Ministry of Power portal)

Conclusion:

EV Charging Stations are being installed at a rapid pace throughout India. By the time, this article is published, the numbers would’ve increased.

Estimates by Grant Thornton Bharat & FICCI suggest India will need more than 4 lakh charging stations for an estimated 20 lakh electric vehicles that could be on roads by 2026. As of December 16, there were only 1028 public electric vehicle chargers installed throughout the country, minister of power RK Singh wrote in response to a Lok Sabha question. But there are thousands more planned, to be installed by governments & private companies. In 2019, the three public sector enterprises (Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum & Indian Oil) were directed to install a supply of at least one new-generation fuel, such as CNG, biofuels, liquefied natural gas or EV charging points at their fuel stations.

The government recently directed all commercial & institutional buildings - shopping malls, hospitals, hotels, offices, educational institutions & movie theatres, with a parking capacity of more than 100 vehicles to set aside 5% of their parking spaces for EV charging.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is adding a charging station for every 40-60 km of national highways.

To cater to the upcoming huge demand, an integrated work approach between the private & public sectors is required.