Following the news that the government plans to install electric vehicle (EV) charging kiosks at around 69,000 petrol pumps across India;

Animesh Kumar, Director of Automotive Consulting at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:

“The move is expected to boost the uptake of EVs in India. Key factors for large-scale adoption of EVs in any market are adequate battery charging or swapping infrastructure and technology, affordable vehicles, plenty of models to choose from, conducive/strict policies and high awareness. The Indian automotive market now has a wide product portfolio of EVs including affordable two-wheelers, electric cars as well as vehicles for public transportation. A vehicle scrappage policy, which is likely to encourage replacement of older vehicles with EVs, is also on the cards. However, the creation of adequate charging/swapping infrastructure is a key hurdle that India needs to overcome.

“A key challenge for the creation of battery charging or swapping infrastructure is lack of availability of space. Hence, the government’s plan of deployment of charging stations across fuel stations makes absolute sense as it will be easier to implement and help in the creation of robust charging infrastructure. The government is also planning to make it compulsory to install EV charging kiosks at all company-owned, company-operated (COCO) petrol pumps of state-controlled oil companies.

“Improvement in charging infrastructure will lay strong foundation for increased uptake of electric two-wheelers and passenger cars. Electric two-wheeler market has significant potential and the market has witnessed the entry of new players, which are focusing at offering affordable e-mobility both for personal and shared business models, such as delivery business and bike sharing. On the passenger vehicle side, EV models such as Tata Nexon EV, Tata Tigor EV, MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona Electric are available at competitive prices and have received positive market response.”