Reality Check: India's EV Push Is Gathering Pace. But Where Will Millions Plug In?

Last Updated:July 01, 2026, 15:42 IST

Until charging is as effortless as parking a vehicle at home overnight, infrastructure, and not consumer willingness, may remain the single biggest obstacle to India's EV ambitions

For the past few years, India has aggressively pushed electric vehicles (EVs) through subsidies, tax incentives, manufacturing-linked schemes and state EV policies. The latest example is the revamped Delhi EV Policy, which doubles down on fully electric vehicles while dropping incentives for strong hybrids.

The objective is clear: reduce oil imports, clean up urban air and build India into an EV manufacturing hub. However, a growing body of evidence suggests the biggest challenge may no longer be convincing people to buy EVs; it may be ensuring they can charge them conveniently, safely and reliably.

A new study by the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) and EV charging company Kazam has thrown fresh light on what experts increasingly describe as the weakest link in India’s EV transition—residential charging infrastructure.

The Surprising Problem

One of the biggest misconceptions around EVs is that public charging stations are the backbone of the ecosystem.

ALSO READ | Can Electric Vehicles Policy 2.0 Fix Delhi’s Air Pollution Woes? Explained

According to the AEEE-Kazam study, around 90 per cent of India’s daily EV energy demand is met through home charging, especially because two- and three-wheelers account for nearly 90 per cent of all EV sales. Public chargers are primarily used during long-distance travel or emergencies.

That means India’s EV success depends less on how many public chargers it installs and more on whether ordinary homes can support EV charging.

Nearly Half Of Indian Homes Aren’t EV-Ready

This is where the biggest bottleneck emerges.

The study, based on more than 80,000 residential charger installations across Tier-1, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, found that nearly 45 per cent of Indian homes require electrical upgrades before they can safely support EV charging. Also, only about 55 per cent of prospective EV buyers currently have access to home charging. Another 30 per cent can install chargers only after upgrading their electrical infrastructure.

Many homes continue to rely on ordinary wall sockets, extension cords or shared electrical connections, arrangements that experts warn are neither ideal nor always safe for long-term EV charging.

What Will Apartment Dwellers Do?

The problem becomes even more complicated in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Gurugram.

ALSO READ | Delhi EV Buyers Must Apply For Subsidy Within 30 Days Of RC Generation, Portal To Go Live In A Week

Unlike independent houses, apartment residents often require approvals from Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), housing societies, builders, landlords, and local electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs). Apart from this, parking spaces may not have dedicated electricity connections. In older buildings, wiring may be inadequate. Shared basements may lack sufficient power capacity.

Experts say these structural issues, and not charger availability, are becoming the biggest barrier to EV ownership in urban India.

Delhi Wants More EVs. Is It Ready?

Delhi has among India’s most ambitious EV targets. The latest EV policy continues to favour battery-electric vehicles over hybrids and proposes expanding charging infrastructure alongside incentives for cleaner mobility.

However, experts quoted after the policy’s approval cautioned that infrastructure rollout has not kept pace with policy ambitions.

Key concerns include slow installation of charging stations, coordination issues among multiple government agencies, residential charging gaps, and implementation timelines. Several experts welcomed the policy but stressed that execution, and not announcements, will determine its success.

Public Chargers Alone Cannot Solve The Problem

India has rapidly expanded its public charging network. But experts say that is only one part of the puzzle.

Research shows public chargers remain concentrated in large cities and highways, while many users need overnight charging near their homes. For daily commuters, a charger several kilometres away is often not a practical substitute for home charging.

ALSO READ | Can Delhi’s New EV Policy 2.0 Drive Change In Other States Too? Explained

Reliability is another concern. Industry reports have highlighted issues such as charger downtime, grid instability, long waiting times, fragmented payment systems and inconsistent user experience.

It’s Not Just About More Chargers

Experts increasingly argue that India’s challenge is shifting from charger quantity to charger usability.

Questions include—Is the charger actually operational? Is it inside a gated complex? Can anyone access it? Does it support multiple vehicle brands? Is the electricity supply stable? Can users locate and pay through a common platform?

Without addressing these issues, simply increasing charger numbers may not significantly improve consumer confidence.

Electrical Grid Also Needs An Upgrade

Residential charging is not merely a consumer issue; it is also a power infrastructure challenge.

Large-scale EV adoption will require stronger neighbourhood transformers, better load management, smart meters, upgraded wiring, and time-of-day charging systems to prevent peak-hour overload.

ALSO READ | As Delhi Moves To Ban New Petrol Scooters By 2028, How Other Countries Are Doing The Same

Experts quoted by The Business Standard note that unmanaged charging could put additional stress on local electricity distribution networks, especially in dense urban neighbourhoods.

So, Is India’s EV Dream Unrealistic?

That would be a stretch. India remains one of the world’s fastest-growing EV markets, particularly in electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers. Battery costs are falling, manufacturers are launching more models and governments continue to support the transition.

The challenge is that infrastructure development, especially residential charging, has not kept pace with policy ambition.

As the AEEE-Kazam report concludes, the next phase of India’s EV transition will depend less on vehicle sales and more on making homes, apartment complexes and local electricity networks “EV-ready".

Looking Ahead

India’s EV push is no longer just an automobile story; it is becoming a housing, electricity and urban infrastructure story.

Until charging becomes as effortless as parking a vehicle at home overnight, infrastructure, not consumer willingness, may remain the single biggest obstacle to India’s electric mobility ambitions.

About the Author

Apoorva Misra

Apoorva Misra is a News Editor at News18.com with a keen interest in politics and current affairs. She loves uncovering fresh angles and telling stories through long-form features and explainers. Foll...Read More

News explainers Reality Check: India's EV Push Is Gathering Pace. But Where Will Millions Plug In?

Read More