India’s e-mobility sector is set for substantial growth, propelled by the rising adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the swift development of charging and battery swapping infrastructure. In the past few months, the Indian government has notified several policies and guidelines in this space. Power Line takes a look at these initiatives and the future outlook for the sector…
Recent initiatives
Recently, in September 2024, the Ministry of Power (MoP) released the “Guidelines for Installation Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure-2024”. These guidelines establish standards and protocols aimed at creating a connected and interoperable EV charging network across the country. They apply to public, semi-public and private charging stations across India, including utilities, and central and state agencies. According to these guidelines, public charging stations (PCSs) can be established on public land at subsidised rates, with revenue-sharing models to lower costs. The EV charging stations will follow a single-part tariff system with reduced rates during solar hours
(9 a.m.-4 p.m.).
In the same month, the Ministry of Heavy Industries launched the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement scheme, which aims at boosting EV adoption, developing charging infrastructure and supporting the growth of the EV manufacturing ecosystem in India. This initiative is backed by a budget of Rs 109 billion over two years, with Rs 20 billion specifically allocated for setting up EV PCSs.
Moreover, to enhance the adoption of battery swapping as an alternative to traditional EV charging, encourage battery-as-a-service models and develop a robust battery swapping ecosystem, the MoP, in January 2025, issued final guidelines for the installation and operation of battery swapping and charging stations, offering a significant boost to India’s EV ecosystem. This method allows users to quickly replace partially or fully discharged batteries with pre-charged ones, minimising vehicle downtime and promoting greater convenience for EV owners. The guidelines are applicable to all entities involved in providing battery swapping services, including owners and operators of battery charging stations (BCSs) and battery swapping stations (BSSs). Owners of BCSs or BSSs can utilise their existing electricity connections to charge swappable batteries, with or without increasing the connected load. Larger vehicles such as trucks and buses may deploy liquid-cooled swappable batteries for efficient charging and swapping. Moreover, safety is the primary focus, with guidelines extending existing provisions for EV infrastructure to BCSs and BSSs as well. These include the provision of public land at promotional/subsidised rates for PCSs, the tariff for electricity supply to EV charging stations and guidelines for charging the station network. This ensures that these facilities are integrated within broader EV infrastructure planning.
Outlook
To meet the ambitious target of 30 per cent EV penetration by 2030, building a reliable and accessible network of EV charging and battery swapping infrastructure is essential. NITI Aayog’s EV sales penetration targets 30 per cent of private cars, 70 per cent of commercial cars, 70 per cent of buses and 100 per cent of two-and three-wheelers transitioning to electric by 2030. This would result in approximately 90 million EVs on Indian roads by that time. To support this surge, a vast number of PCSs and swapping facilities will be necessary. According to updates from the Rajya Sabha, as of December 2024, India has installed 25,202 PCSs. We have a long way to go as it is expected that by 2030, India will need an estimated 46,000 charging stations to match global benchmarks, according to Alvarez and Marsal. While a robust charging infrastructure remains critical, battery swapping presents a valuable alternative, potentially addressing some of the limitations of traditional charging methods and further facilitating the EV transition. Going ahead, these new guidelines are set to propel the growth of India’s battery-swapping ecosystem, alongside the expansion of charging infrastructure. This dual development will offer consumers a range of EV solutions, catering to diverse preferences and needs. The ongoing evolution of battery swapping and traditional charging technologies represents a dynamic competition, driving continuous improvement within the EV ecosystem and ensuring a more adaptable and efficient future for electric mobility.
Net, net, India’s EV infrastructure market is undergoing a swift transformation, fuelled by supportive government initiatives and increasing consumer demand. As the nation strides towards greater uptake of e-mobility, collaboration among industry stakeholders, adoption of innovative solutions and a stronger emphasis on integrating renewable energy into EV charging will be crucial. These efforts will help address existing challenges in the sector and unlock the full potential of EV adoption and infrastructure development across the country.
Sakshi Bansal