EV Charging Stations Far From Catching Up With EV Numbers; Room For Firms To Innovate, Scale Up

EVs are the buzzword worldwide but it has failed to transcend into popular choices, especially in India, where fears over range anxiety hold it down.

When EVs hit the market initially, manufacturers hoped the charging infrastructure would get better when there are more EVs on the road. But inadequate EV infrastructure is a major factor keeping people from switching to EVs.
 
As of now, there are only 12,146 public charging stations in the country, according to the Ministry of Heavy Industries. The number doesn’t include private chargers installed by companies, which make up a significant portion, since there are no aggregated countrywide figures available.

Experts note urban areas are better off than rural areas in terms of private EV charging infrastructure. That said, they still don’t rule out the dearth of charging infrastructure and the inconvenience it causes. 

From 2013 till now, 4.05 million EVs have been sold in the country. Of these 1,72,355 are four-wheelers and 2.083 million are two-wheelers, according to the Vahan Dashboard aggregated by Clean Mobility Shift. 
 
Compared to EV sales today, charging stations are struggling to keep up. Even installing them in the right convenient places seems to be an unaddressed problem.
 
East Delhi resident Keshav Pandey, who bought an MG Comet four months ago back, told The Secretariat about the challenges he faces. 
 
“The range anxiety becomes a real concern at times. There have been instances where I thought my car would run out of battery and I had to alter my schedule just to charge my EV. Owing to how much time it takes for my car to charge, I prefer to charge it at home,” he said.
 
“Apps that help find nearby charging stations have shown inoperative stations. As a result, I had to change my route and schedule. Additionally, EV charging stations are not uniform and are often in areas where they are not used,” he added.
 
Pandey is not alone in facing the ordeal. The disparity between EV sales and charging infrastructure is an alarming concern. Given the time it takes to charge an EV, the bright future envisioned by experts could turn into a nightmare without timely policy interventions. 
 
The EV owners could end up suffering the same fate as owners of CNG vehicles, who end up waiting in long queues at CNG pumps. In other words, EV owners would be stuck in queues for charging. 
 
Experts suggest optimal locations for charging stations that balance convenience and efficiency. “Firms looking to install EV charging infrastructure need to identify and reach areas that will utilise them the most. This can be scaled up in a phased installation manner later. Areas such as gated colonies, community centres and shopping complexes can be prioritised for installing EV charging stations,” said P Tharyan, Editor, Motown India, a leading automotive portal.
 
Already some charging firms have sniffed the opportunity. Reports said the Tata and Adani groups have invested in installing EV charging in residential societies in Maharashtra earlier this year. The housing colony was to collectively get charging points installed, where the rates would be cheaper compared to a public EV charging station.

EV owners can install charging points at home, but that can prove to be cumbersome in residential colonies. There have been numerous instances where many EV owners faced challenges in installing a personal charging point in their allotted parking spot. 

A case in point is Anand Vedula, a resident of a housing colony in Bengaluru and an owner of a Mahindra E2O, who had to move court against the colony's Resident Welfare Association, which removed his EV charging point at his parking space over the common area violations.

With such challenges, EV firms can sweep in as heroes to set up common EV charging points. Vedula pointed out his apprehension about a common charging spot in residential colonies to The Secretariat.

“My EV requires 6-7 hours to be fully charged. The ideal time for me to charge is at night when I am not using the vehicle. However, a common charging spot can be tricky as other EV owners may want to charge their vehicle at this time as well, triggering the lack of availability of a spot,” he noted.

Vedula's concerns about personal EV charging points were also addressed by the government when it made amendments to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020. The new rules require distribution licensees to provide a separate connection for EV charging upon request from the owner or association.
 
That said, there is still some value for firms ready to invest in residential neighbourhoods, as well as shopping complexes and offices. EV firms need to identify and perhaps hold consultations with each residential colony as a one-size-fits-all approach can’t go a long way.
 
Recently, the UK installed a record number of charging stations in the country. The report noted EV charging firms were initially focused on affluent areas to set up charging infrastructure as people there were likely to own an EV. 

Identifying areas where EV ownership is more common can help firms identify potential customers. However, there are challenges associated with this process.

Challenges Galore

Narayanan Nampoothiri, an expert in the EV charging landscape, told The Secretariat, "There is a lack of space in most of the residential buildings, making it tough to find space and install common charging spots. Separately, power load availability is also a challenge that firms may face."

“Many residential societies have basement parking where EV charging points will be installed. However, there is a problem of network connectivity that arises with private charging in the basement parking. Moreover, there is uncertainty regarding who will invest in it as there is no solid customer base, and it may take long for firms to get a return on their investments. This is the biggest challenge of all,” he said.
 
Explaining how EV charging firms profit and their challenges, Nampoothiri said the firms can either charge a platform fee per unit of electricity or they can charge for the duration it takes to charge an EV. Without an adequate return on investment, EV charging companies won’t look at scaling up.

Way Forward

With such issues at play, there is a need for a change in strategy from the Indian government and firms to find solutions that benefit stakeholders. Identifying and understanding the consumer base has to be the first step in tailoring the strategy for EV charging.
 
Moreover, the government and the EV charging firms can learn from other countries and adapt them here. That’s the need of the hour.

“India needs to have its own unique model. I believe installing charging stations according to the context of Indian consumers can result in a hopeful future of EVs,” said Tharyan. 
 
While there are challenges ahead, a targeted approach can help in resolving solutions and strengthening the ecosystem.