EV Charging Infrastructure and Government Initiatives

As of the latest data from BHEL portal, India has 52,718 public charging stations for electric vehicles, out of which 16,561 stations are equipped with fast EV chargers for cars. The Ministry of Heavy Industries has implemented multiple schemes to address range anxiety and promote EV adoption across the country.

Funding Allocation for Charging Infrastructure

The government has allocated ₹912.50 crore under the FAME-II scheme and ₹2,000 crore under the PM E-DRIVE scheme specifically for setting up EV public charging stations across India, with particular focus on cities and highways. The Ministry of Power has issued "Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure 2024" to establish standards for a connected and interoperable charging network, including provisions for battery swapping and charging stations. Setting up EV charging stations has been declared an un-licensed activity to facilitate easier establishment of charging infrastructure by private entrepreneurs.

Production Linked Incentive Schemes

Under the PLI scheme for Automobile & Auto Components (PLI-Auto), financial incentives of 13% to 18% are provided on determined incremental sales of Advanced Automotive Technology vehicles, including electric cars (e-4W). The scheme was notified on 23.09.2021 with a budgetary outlay of ₹25,938 crore to enhance India's manufacturing capabilities for AAT products including EVs.

Additionally, the PLI Scheme for National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage was notified on 09.06.2021 with a budgetary outlay of ₹18,100 crore, aiming to establish a competitive domestic manufacturing ecosystem for 50 GWh of ACC batteries.

E-Bus Deployment Programs

Under the PM E-DRIVE scheme, an allocation of ₹4,391 crore has been made for deployment of 14,028 e-buses. A total of 13,800 e-buses have been allocated to seven cities: Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Surat. The tender process for selection of e-bus operators concluded in two phases: Phase I for 10,900 e-buses by 30.12.2025 and Phase II for 2,900 e-buses by 27.05.2026.

As of 30.06.2026, Letters of Award have been issued by Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Surat. Concession Agreements have been signed by Hyderabad for 915 e-buses out of 2,000 allocated, and by Surat for 600 e-buses. Additionally, 200 e-buses have been approved for deployment in hilly terrain in Jammu & Kashmir. Convergence Energy Services Limited and the Ministry of Heavy Industries are conducting regular consultations with State Governments and STUs for faster deployment.

Comprehensive EV Support Schemes

The FAME India Scheme Phase-II was implemented from 01.04.2019 to 31.03.2024 with total budgetary support of ₹11,500 crore. The scheme supported the sale of approximately 16.72 lakh electric vehicles including e-2Ws, e-3Ws, and e-4Ws, and deployed 5,197 electric buses as of 30.06.2026.

The PM E-DRIVE Scheme, notified on 29.09.2024 with an outlay of ₹10,900 crore, supports incentivization of approximately 28.30 lakh electric vehicles including e-2W, e-3W, e-Trucks, e-buses and e-Ambulances, along with EV public charging stations and upgradation of testing agencies.

The PM e-Bus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) Scheme, notified on 28.10.2024 with an outlay of ₹3,435.33 crore, aims to support deployment of more than 38,000 electric buses by providing payment security to e-bus operators in case of default by Public Transport Authorities.

The Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SPMEPCI) was notified on 15th March, 2024, requiring applicants to invest a minimum of ₹4,150 crore and achieve minimum Domestic Value Addition of 25% by the third year and 50% by the fifth year.

Additional Support Measures

The government has implemented several supplementary initiatives including reduction of GST on electric vehicles and chargers/charging stations to 5%, issuance of green license plates for battery-operated vehicles with exemption from permit requirements, and advisory to states to waive road tax on EVs to reduce initial costs.