Plug and play : The future of electric vehicles in India's charging infrastructure

India is amongst one of the world's largest automobile markets,one of the world's largest markets for two- and three-wheeled vehicles, ranking among the global top five for private cars and commercial vehicles. Customer demand for new technology ,continuous infrastructure development ,emergence of private players,ambitious government targets and increasing consumer awareness is a key to achieve upcoming ambitious EV adoption goals.This article will focus on the future of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

Environmental and economic opportunities

Air pollution -Current transportation sector is a major contributor for air pollution.EV adoption will have a significant impact on the environment.Vehicular traffic contributes to 27% of total air pollution.Therefore switching to EV will significantly reduce environmental impact emerging from internal combustion engine vehicles.

Noise pollution- According to the 2022 UNEP report, five Indian cities feature in the world's noisiest cities. EVs don't have the mechanical valves, gears, or fans which is common in ICE vehicles.EV adoption will bring down noise levels.

Efficiency -Considering fuel efficiency,petrol and diesel cars can convert 21% of stored energy.On the other hand electric vehicles use 60 % of electric energy from the grid.

OEM-The Indian government is pushing the supply chain under the Atma Nirbhar plan to support OEMs to develop the EV ecosystem.The EV industry provides enormous opportunities for OEMs to build cost-competitive auto products for India and the rest of the world.

Real estate-EVs create multiple opportunities for real estate investors, realtors, and property developers, as this industry requires the construction of EV manufacturing units, industrial areas, and charging stations.

Retail business-Retails businesses also benefited by this development because it takes 15-20 min.to charge EV.

Fleet operators-Fleet operators like amazon, bigbasket,blinkit can reduce their operating costs by switching to EVs.Young generation is looking forward to embracing new technology as the country is experiencing an upward trend in e-mobility.

Challenges in total EV adoption

Lack of clean energy -Much of the electricity is generated from burning coal.The main purpose of EV adoption is to reduce carbon emission.Thats why India is exploiting clean energy sources like solar,wind.

High upfront cost-Electric vehicles are costlier than ICE vehicles.Indian government provides opportunities for private players to leverage innovation and technology to build EVs faster and at a lower cost. In turn, this will bring down upfront costs for end-users, thereby leading to greater adoption of electric vehicles in India.

Underdeveloped charging infrastructure- India's current charging infrastructure may not be enough to handle the increased demand for EVs. The government is working with private players to boost charging stations.private entities in the sector are working with municipal, state, and central entities to help install charging stations.

Battery technology-Current EV batteries are small, and have low voltage capacities, so they aren't enough to increase EV propulsion and travel longer distances.Limited range will make it difficult for drivers to travel long distances.

The Government is also promoting the manufacturing of batteries in India with the National Mission for Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage. It is also providing companies with the technical knowledge and business environment to improve the battery technology for EVs.

Lack of consumer awareness-Lack of awareness of EVs and a general reluctance to embrace new technologies, especially in rural areas.Solution to this problem is creation of awareness and education programs to educate consumers about the benefits of switching to EVs.Also development of more affordable EVs, the expansion of charging infrastructure is very much needed for total adoption of EV.

Role of charging infrastructure expansion

Exponential growth -India needs around 4 lakh charging stations annually to keep pace with EV adoption.

Charging options-Diverse charging options like fast chargers at highways and slow charging options at residential areas and battery swapping solution.

Advance technology integration -Smart charging ,grid integration and renewable energy sources to power stations.

Summing Up

Overall the future of EV charging infrastructure is very much promising.Requires continuous efforts from government,private sector and consumers.Overcoming challenges like cost,accessibility and awareness is the key to unlock full potential of electric mobility in India.