A deep dive into India’s electric vehicle landscape

India is at a crucial juncture in its transition to electric mobility. As the country grapples with the twin challenges of urban pollution and energy security, the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) offers a compelling solution. Government initiatives such as Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) have been instrumental in driving EV adoption in India. The focus on incentivising BEVs and expanding charging infrastructure has provided much-needed momentum.

Accelerating EV adoption with the right policies

The state-level policies play a crucial role in determining the pace of adoption. States and Union territories with clear, supportive policies are seeing higher EV penetration rates, while those without such policies are falling behind, according to the 2024 EV Index by HERE Technologies and SBD Automotive.

The Index states that while some states like Chandigarh have made significant strides, others lag behind, highlighting the uneven pace of adoption. Moreover, the Index also reveals a stark disparity in EV infrastructure across the country. States and Union territories with fewer public charging stations per battery electric vehicle (BEV) such as Bihar and Chhattisgarh are struggling to keep up, creating significant gaps in coverage. This uneven distribution is a critical barrier to widespread EV adoption, particularly in less urbanised areas. The message is clear: strategic investment in infrastructure is essential to bridge these gaps and ensure that EV drivers have reliable access to charging stations, regardless of their location.

Delhi has introduced the Delhi EV Policy, which offers substantial incentives for purchasing EVs, waivers on road tax, and subsidies for setting up charging infrastructure. Karnataka’s Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy aims to make the state a preferred destination for EV and battery manufacturers by offering fiscal incentives and land at concessional rates. Maharashtra’s EV policy, on the other hand, provides incentives for scrapping old vehicles and purchasing new EVs, along with subsidies for charging infrastructure. These policies create a favourable environment for both consumers and businesses, leading to higher adoption rates and positioning these states as leaders in the EV transition.

As such, there is the need for a more consistent and coordinated approach across all states. To truly accelerate the transition to electric mobility, every state and Union territories must commit to creating an environment that supports EV adoption, including investing in infrastructure and providing incentives for both consumers and businesses.

Chandigarh’s top rank in the EV Index is a testament to its well-rounded approach to electric mobility. The city’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Deployment Plan, launched in recent years, has been a key driver of its success. With the aim to make Chandigarh a ‘Model EV City,’, the plan includes financial incentives for both consumers and businesses to adopt EVs, as well as subsidies for the installation of charging infrastructure. As a result, Chandigarh boasts one of the highest densities of public chargers in India, with 148 chargers serving a relatively small number of electric vehicles.

Infrastructure is the backbone of electric mobility

Charging infrastructure forms the foundation upon which the success of electric mobility rests. Without it, even the most ambitious policies will struggle to gain traction. The 2024 HERE-SBD EV Index shows that while some regions are well-equipped, others are severely lacking.

For instance, Delhi has an impressive ratio of one public charger for every 12.5 kilometres of road, making it easier for drivers to find a charging point when needed. Chandigarh, with its well-distributed network of chargers, not only has a high density of chargers but also boasts an average power capacity of 46 kW, allowing for faster charging times. These figures reflect a proactive approach to building infrastructure that meets the needs of current EV users while also preparing for future growth.In contrast, states like Manipur only has a single charger recorded in the entire state. This disparity presents a clear challenge that expanding charging infrastructure is critical to supporting the growing number of EVs on Indian roads. For India to achieve its ambitious electrification goals, sustained investment in charging infrastructure is essential. This includes expanding the network of chargers, increasing their power capacity, and ensuring that they are accessible across both urban and rural areas.

Location data charges up the EV landscape
As India’s EV market grows, location data plays an increasingly critical role in supporting this transition. As drivers increasingly rely on real-time data to locate and utilise charging points, the availability of comprehensive navigation tools that incorporate this data becomes crucial.

Location data is not just a tool for navigation; it is essential for overcoming key challenges in the ecosystem, particularly range anxiety – the fear of running out of charge before reaching adestination. By providing real-time insights into the availability and capacity of charging stations,location data enables drivers to plan their routes with confidence, ensuring they can find a working charger when needed. This is crucial in a country where the distribution of charging infrastructure canvary widely between urban centres and rural areas.

Moreover, location data is vital for the strategic placement of new charging stations. By analysing traffic patterns, vehicle density, and existing infrastructure, stakeholders can make informed decisions about where to invest in new charging points, ensuring that these resources are allocated efficiently. This not only helps to expand coverage in underserved areas but also maximises the impact of infrastructure investments, supporting broader EV adoption across the country.

Moreover, location data is vital for the strategic placement of new charging stations. By analysing traffic patterns, vehicle density, and existing infrastructure, stakeholders can make informed decisionsabout where to invest in new charging points, ensuring that these resources are allocated efficiently. This not only helps to expand coverage in underserved areas but also maximises the impact of infrastructure investments, supporting broader EV adoption across the country.

Abhijit Sengupta

Abhijit Sengupta is Senior Director and Head of Business, Southeast Asia & India at HERE Technologies.He is also the Chair of the Smart Mobility Committee at the European Chamber of Commerce (Singapore) and is an existing member of the Logistics Council at the Internet and Mobile Association of India.

Based out of Singapore, Abhijit brings over two decades of experience in Sales and Business Development, Product Management and Product Operations. He has been driving customer successes in the B2B and B2C segments with market-leading organizations in India and Southeast Asia.

Abhijit has extensive experience in working in start-up phase in the Indian Telecom and communications sector and has led some “first to the industry” and “first to the market” product launches.

In the last 12 years with HERE Technologies, Abhijit has led Product Management and Product Operations to launch the map and location content in high-growth Southeast Asia and India markets. Having worked with many key customers in the region, Abhijit has led thought leadership in defining Product and Content Strategy for the India and Southeast Asia markets.

While Abhijit is mandated to drive growth for HERE Technologies in India and Southeast Asia, he is also working with various stakeholders in the ecosystem to drive value and outcome.

A regular speaker in many industry forums, Abhijit believes that the world around us has to handle more and more data in the connected environment, location technology is the key and will help us to usher the Autonomous world.

Author: Abhijit Sengupta, Senior Director and Head of Business for India & Southeast Asia, HERE
Technologies