EVs are hitting the roads, but India’s infrastructure, pricing, and skilled workforce aren’t keeping pace. What’s missing from the EV revolution? Here’s what the experts say.
Have you ever wondered why EV adoption is very slow in India compared to many other countries like China and Japan? The major technical barrier to mass EV adoption is not the vehicle itself but the infrastructure. Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles have remained dominant in India and neighboring countries mainly because of the well-established fuel infrastructure.
Another challenge we face as a consumer is charging time. While refueling at a petrol station takes only a few minutes, charging an EV battery takes much longer depending on the battery’s charging rate or C rating. This affects the consumer experience and convenience.
In an exclusive interview with Nidhi Agarwal from Electronics For You, Deepak Singh Rawal from Hioki India shared several key insights about the real challenges facing EV adoption in India. He pointed to the vast gap between the number of fuel pumps (about 90,000) and EV charging stations (only around 12,000) across the country. In the same context he added that for EVs, a similar ecosystem is required, but instead of fuel, they rely on battery charging facilities.
Deepak highlights that while EV two-wheelers have gained traction due to their affordability and shorter range needs, four-wheelers remain out of reach for most Indians due to higher upfront costs. A five-seater ICE car starts at ₹5 to 6 lakh, but its EV equivalent starts at ₹8 to 9 lakh. He explains this price gap by pointing to supply-demand dynamics and a still-nascent ecosystem.
He also touches on a lesser-discussed hurdle which is the severe shortage of trained EV technicians. The industry lacks technically skilled manpower. Our education system still doesn’t offer enough focused programs on EV technologies. Deepak stresses the need for government-backed training initiatives.
Despite the challenges, we can see strong government efforts, rising startup activity, and global collaborations including Hioki’s partnerships with brands like Tesla and BYD as signs that India’s EV journey is moving forward. The vehicles are ready. The technology is here. It is the ecosystem for charging, servicing, and regulation that still needs to catch up.
Stay tuned, for the full interview!
