India's sparse EV-charging network stumbles on strategy, state support

India has less than 3 per cent of the EU's PCS network, and received only 15 per cent of FAME-II EV subsidy scheme's Rs 10,000-crore budget

Economics, or the lack of it for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in India, is often seen as the key reason behind India’s sparse public charging network. But slipping under the radar are smaller but equally critical concerns relating to the government’s role in promoting public charging stations (PCS), the importance of placement, and the quality of the network. The contrast between Karthikeyan Palani- samy’s Zeon Charging network and the Kerala state utility’s PCS expansion programme reflects the role of strategic planning in building public charging infrastructure. 
 

Zeon has a charging footprint of 160 chargers across 100 locations in South