Plugging In: Advancing EV Infrastructure in India

India’s electric vehicle (EV) sector is growing rapidly; however, there is currently insufficient infrastructure to support that growth. Distribution companies (DISCOMs), as the link between the electricity grid and the EV infrastructure market, are uniquely positioned to address that challenge. This brief identifies roles and priority actions for DISCOMs in enabling India’s EV infrastructure to keep pace with its mobility and energy transition goals.

To meet India’s goals of 30 percent EV penetration by 2030, RMI estimates the country will need over 1.9 million public chargers and 275,000 battery swapping stations by 2040. DISCOMs can serve in various roles, from enablers of private sector charging to charge point operators (CPOs), to help meet this infrastructure need.

DISCOMs must evaluate their financial capacity, regulatory environment, and technical readiness when choosing their role. Those with limited resources may focus on enabling private investment, while other DISCOMs can take on more active roles as CPOs.

To drive the scale-up of EV infrastructure, DISCOMs should consider the following priority actions:

• Conducting long-term EV load planning to upgrade grid infrastructure strategically
• Streamlining processes to reduce barriers to entry for CPOs
• Providing infrastructure and pilots to support future load mitigation
• Assessing innovative business models to become CPOs

Despite challenges around grid upgrades, load forecasting, and viability, international examples showcase that DISCOM leadership can catalyze the market and accelerate the deployment of necessary infrastructure. With focused action and stronger coordination, DISCOMs can help build a robust, scalable, and inclusive EV infrastructure ecosystem.