India Achieves 25,202 Public EV Charging Stations: Minister Announces
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New Delhi, Dec 20 (NationPress) The country has successfully installed 25,202 public charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) as of now, according to a statement from the government on Friday.
Karnataka is in the lead with 5,765 EV public charging stations, followed closely by Maharashtra with 3,728 and Uttar Pradesh with 1,989, as informed by the Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, during a written response in the Rajya Sabha.
Information from the Ministry of Power reveals that 271 EV public charging stations are operational in Chhattisgarh.
The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has been actively encouraging the uptake of EVs within India. On September 29, 2024, the ministry launched the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) initiative aimed at boosting EV adoption, enhancing charging infrastructure, and supporting the growth of the EV manufacturing ecosystem across the nation.
This initiative has a financial allocation of Rs 10,900 crore over a period of two years, with Rs 2,000 crore specifically designated for the establishment of EV public charging stations (EVPCS).
Additionally, the Ministry of Power released the "Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure-2024" on September 17, which delineates standards and protocols to develop interconnected and interoperable EV charging infrastructure networks nationwide.
The requirements for charging infrastructure are influenced by factors such as the variety of electric vehicles, their usage patterns, geographical features, urbanization trends, EV technology, and the technology of charging devices.
The minister noted that, as these factors are continuously evolving, there is currently no universal agreement on the necessary number of charging points for a specified number of EVs.
According to the Vahan portal operated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the total count of registered electric two-wheelers in the country has reached 28,55,015, while electric four-wheelers tally at 2,57,169 (as of December 4).
Meanwhile, projections estimate that the EV charging market in India will soar to $3.7 billion by 2030, propelled by a growing adoption rate. Battery swapping, especially for two- and three-wheelers, is gaining traction in India, with leading automotive companies investing in battery-swapping technologies to enhance the affordability and accessibility of EVs.
