India Expands EV Charging Network with Major Funding Boost

02 Apr 2025 CW Team

The Indian government is accelerating the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, with Rs 8.39 billon allocated under the FAME-II scheme and an additional Rs 20 billion earmarked under the PM E-DRIVE scheme. This funding will support the establishment of EV public charging stations (EVPCS) across urban and rural areas.

To streamline infrastructure development, the Ministry of Power issued the "Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure-2024" on 17th September 2024. These guidelines promote public-private partnerships, designate EV charging station setup as a de-licensed activity, and simplify business processes to encourage private sector participation.

The government is also fostering Research & Development (R&D) in EV technology through various initiatives:

PLI ACC Scheme: Engineering R&D and product design & development expenditures are considered as part of eligible investments.

Capital Goods Scheme (MHI): Up to 80% of R&D project costs, including EV-related research at institutions like IITs and IISc, are funded by the government, with the remaining 20% covered by industry partners.

This information was provided by Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. With continued policy support and investment, India is advancing towards a comprehensive and accessible EV charging ecosystem.

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