India’s EV charging network is expanding at record speed. Over the last three years, the number of public chargers has grown more than fivefold, crossing the 30,000 mark nationwide. Cities like Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai are installing new stations every week.
And yet, utilisation remains painfully low. According to industry reports, less than 10% of chargers are being used regularly. Many lie idle, tucked behind malls, closed gates, or buildings that few EV users visit. It’s the classic case of rapid growth meeting patchy execution.
So, what’s really going on behind the numbers? And more importantly, what’s the fix?
The Reality: Not All Chargers Are in the Right Place
Let’s start with the obvious, location matters more than quantity.
A 7.4 kW AC charger hidden behind an office building won’t help a driver looking for a quick 30-minute top-up on a highway. Meanwhile, a 60 kW DC charger at a residential complex may rarely see traffic during the day.
India’s rollout has focused heavily on meeting installation targets, not on site selection, visibility, or power mix. The result? Great stats on paper, but poor ROI for charge point operators (CPOs) and property owners.
Here’s the thing: chargers don’t make money sitting idle. They make money when people can find, access, and use them consistently.
Hardware Is Growing Up. Software Needs to Catch Up.
A quiet revolution is happening in the background. EV charger manufacturing in India has matured rapidly, local companies are now building 22 kW AC units, 60 kW dual DC chargers, and even 320 kW high-speed chargers domestically. That’s a huge leap from where the country was even two years ago.
But where the industry is lagging is software integration and energy management.
Without a solid backend, think smart load distribution, predictive maintenance, uptime alerts, and real-time usage analytics, even the best hardware struggles to deliver consistent performance.
This is where intelligent charging management platforms like Relay by Plugzmart are quietly changing the game. They help operators track usage, monitor revenue, and even switch networks, turning chargers from idle assets into data-driven revenue machines.
From Installation to Utilisation: The Next Big Shift
The next phase of India’s EV charger story isn’t about building faster, it’s about building smarter.
Here’s what that looks like:
· Smart load management to distribute power efficiently during peak hours.
· Multi-tenant billing models for shared chargers in apartments or office parks.
· Interoperability through OCPI protocols, letting CPOs connect to multiple apps and payment systems.
· Fleet-ready setups, where operators can manage a cluster of chargers through one dashboard.
These aren’t futuristic ideas anymore. They’re what separate profitable charging networks from those that fail after the subsidy runs out.
What It Means for Businesses and Property Owners
If you manage a commercial space, IT park, hotel, or mall, here’s the reality: installing chargers is no longer just a green checkbox. It’s an economic decision.
Done right, EV chargers can:
· Attract premium tenants and long-term corporate clients.
· Generate recurring revenue through pay-per-use models.
· Improve ESG ratings and brand reputation.
· Prepare your property for future EV compliance norms.
But to make that work, it’s not just about picking any charger. It’s about selecting the right power rating, right software, and right service partner.
A 7.4 kW AC unit might fit a gated community or workplace parking lot. A 60 kW dual-gun DC charger might make more sense for commercial hubs or fleet operators. It’s not “one size fits all” anymore.
What Comes Next
The EV charging boom is only getting started, but survival now depends on efficiency, not expansion.
As India transitions from “how many chargers” to “how well they perform,” expect to see:
· Wider adoption of AI-driven uptime monitoring.
· Dynamic pricing models based on time-of-day demand.
· Standardisation of OCPI and network interoperability.
· Domestic hardware + smart CMS combinations replacing imports.
The message is clear: building chargers is easy. Building a charging ecosystem that works. that’s the real milestone.
Final thought:
EV charging in India doesn’t need another wave of installations. It needs smarter utilisation, better data, and stronger partnerships between hardware makers, software platforms, and property owners.
Those who adapt early, the ones who see chargers not as equipment but as long-term infrastructure, will be the ones who win this race.
FAQs
Why are many EV chargers in India underutilized?
Many chargers are installed in low-traffic or poorly accessible areas. Inadequate visibility, lack of standardization, and insufficient backend management systems also contribute to low utilization.
How can Charge Point Operators (CPOs) improve charger utilization?
CPOs can enhance utilization through smart site selection, CMS software for uptime tracking, dynamic pricing, and OCPI-based interoperability to list their stations on multiple EV charging apps.
