Stranded With a Dead EV? Not Anymore—The Charging Revolution is Here!

 

Imagine being stranded in the middle of nowhere, your electric car running on its last few kilometers and no charging station in-sight. This fear of range anxiety is real and it’s one I’ve personally felt more than once.

Image Source: Unknown

        The good news? Things are changing. The proliferation of home chargers with capacities of 7 kWh and above, which take around six to seven hours to fully charge a car depending on the model, is bringing running costs down by nearly a third. Coupled with the increasing range of modern electric cars, this shift could trigger a massive surge in EV sales.

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Image Source: Cars24

        Last month, at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in Delhi, I witnessed three major carmakers—Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Vinfast—unveil their latest electric models. But what caught my attention more than the cars was their aggressive push for a widespread charging infrastructure.

        Hyundai Motors India’s Managing Director, Unsoo Kim, announced a plan to set up 600 fast-charging stations within the next seven years, with 50 already operational. Hyundai is also partnering with third-party providers like Statiq and Shell to establish more than 10,200 additional charging points. Not to be left behind, Maruti pledged to ensure fast charging support across 100+ cities, aiming to have a charging point every five to ten kilometers. Meanwhile, Vietnamese automaker Vinfast is bringing in its subsidiary, Vin-Green, to develop an extensive charging network in India. PSUs like Hindustan Petroleum, Bharath Petroleum and IOCL have already drawn up plans to add up EV Charging Stations at their Retail outlets.

Source : IBEF.org

        The push for public charging infrastructure makes complete sense. While 80% of electric two-wheeler owners charge their vehicles at home, electric cars cover much longer daily distances, making public fast chargers crucial. Even with advancements in battery technology, accessible charging stations—both in cities and on highways—are critical to easing range anxiety and boosting adoption.

        Yet the numbers are concerning. India currently has 10,000–12,000 fast chargers and needs over a million to meet the government’s 2030 EV penetration goals. The CII estimates that 400,000 new chargers must be installed annually to achieve the ideal ratio of one charging station for every 40 EVs. By contrast, China already boasts 1.2 million fast chargers.

Source: Ministry of Heavy Industries

        The viability of public fast chargers remains a major challenge mostly due to subsidized electric power to residencies. Most of these stations are struggling due to low utilization—averaging just 2% when at least 8-10% is needed to break even. Installing a fast charger costs anywhere from ₹3-5 lakh to as much as ₹30 lakh and without enough electric cars using them, the ROI remains a distant dream. Statiq, one of the leading infrastructure provider, admits that it takes at least four years for a charging station to become profitable. To stay ahead, they’re upgrading their existing 60 kWh chargers to 120 kWh units, aiming for faster charging times and greater efficiency.

         The government is stepping in with initiatives like the PM E-Drive scheme, which proposes covering 80% of the cost of upstream infrastructure for 72,000 fast chargers. However, the subsidy disbursement process remains cumbersome as funds will be routed through states, which will then select land and operators. This multi-layered approach may slow progress instead of accelerating it.

        Another challenge lies in the cost of charging itself. As mentioned earlier while home charging is relatively affordable, commercial power tariffs at public fast-charging stations are three to four times higher. Industry players are lobbying for the removal of the 18% GST on public charging to make EV ownership more economical.

        Additionally, installing home chargers remains a hurdle especially in apartment complexes. While electric two-wheelers can plug into standard sockets, car owners in some states often face resistance from resident welfare associations due to power load concerns. Without clear state or municipal policies, many housing societies outright reject charging station installations.

        Discovering charging stations is one major headache. There’s no unified app integrating all operators, forcing EV owners like me to juggle multiple platforms just to find an available charger. Google Maps is still to catch-up. Some automakers, like MG Motors, have tried integrating third-party services and Statiq is collaborating with car brands to streamline access. However, without minimum service level agreements to ensure station uptime, reliability remains a question mark.

        Despite these challenges, collaboration is gaining momentum. Statiq has partnered with Hyundai and BMW for electric cars, while Ather and Hero MotoCorp have built 3,400 fast-charging stations open to competitors. In a significant step forward, Ather has received approval from the Bureau of Indian Standards for its proprietary charging connector, compatible with two-, three- and even some four-wheelers.

        One thing is clear: launching new EV models isn’t enough. To drive adoption automakers must ensure that charging is convenient, accessible and affordable. Fortunately, the future for EV owners like me look incredibly bright with increasing investment, policy support and technological advancements. It is a perfect time to take the leap if you are planning to buy electric car. The infrastructure is improving, costs are coming down and the driving experience is getting better than ever. Soon, range anxiety will be a thing of the past as EVs will become the norm rather than the exception. The road ahead is electric—are you ready to drive into the future?