India's EV Charging Network Grows But Lacks Fast-Charging Capacity Amid Rising BEV Fleet

India's public electric vehicle charging network expanded by 6,800 charge points between 2024 and 2025, but the average power output of these charging stations remained flat at 33 kW, suggesting that while infrastructure is growing in quantity, it is not advancing in capacity to support rapid charging requirements for the country's increasing battery electric vehicle (BEV) fleet, a new survey said on Wednesday. 

Mapping and location data firm HERE Technologies and global automotive research company SBD Automotive jointly released the 2025 edition of the HERE–SBD EV Index which is now in its third year of tracking the EV landscape in the US and Europe and second consecutive year in India.

The survey in India covers 31 states and union territories and it assesses EV infrastructure maturity and EV adoption metrics. Notably, this year’s findings reveal a maturing EV landscape in India, marked by strong consumer demand, shifting state-level rankings and infrastructure challenges.

India's Faulty Public Chargers

Respondents in India report the highest frequency of faulty public chargers, with 73 per cent of surveyed EV owners having experienced a failed charging attempt. Perception of availability of charging infrastructure is the top barrier to adoption, cited by 47 per cent of Indian respondents.

More public charging stations are the most desired improvement (36 per cent). India has the lowest EV range expectations, likely due to shorter urban commutes.

Average age of EV owners in India is 35 years, compared to 46 in the US and 46 on average in the EU.

Respondents in India show the highest optimism for EV adoption among the regions surveyed, with 90 per cent of respondents confident in the country’s ability to build supporting infrastructure.

Chandigarh retained its first position with a score of 87.90, driven by a near 1 per cent increase in BEV fleet share and continued policy support for 4-wheeler EVs and charger installation. Karnataka climbs from fourth to second place, benefiting from a strong charger per BEV score, despite a slight decline in actual charger availability.

Goa, now is at the third stop and leads the country in BEV fleet share at 0.91 per cent.

“India’s EV journey is accelerating, propelled by rising consumer interest and progressive state-level policies. As adoption surgeAs adoption surges, the strain on infrastructure becomes more evident. The 2025 HERE-SBD EV Index highlights both the promise and pressure points of India’s EV ecosystem. These insights can serve as a valuable guide for policymakers and industry leaders to align efforts, close infrastructure gaps, and build a more inclusive and sustainable mobility future for the country," Abhijit Sengupta, Senior Director and Head of Business for HERE’s India and Southeast Asian Business, said in a statement. 

Capital Delhi continues to lead in charger density, with an estimate of one public charger for every 9 km of road. Tamil Nadu climbed to fifth, up from sixth last year, reflecting steady growth in EV fleet share.

The conclusion of the FAME II programme in September 2024 marked a shift in India’s policy landscape. PM E-DRIVE now leads the charge, focusing on electrification of two and three-wheelers and commercial vehicles. While four-wheelers are not directly targeted, they continue to benefit from sales tax deductions and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which supports domestic manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles.