Tata Power has decided to slow its public electric vehicle charging infrastructure expansion after encountering persistently low usage rates. The move comes as the company reassesses its plan to install 25,000 public chargers by FY28. Currently, only around 5,500 public charging stations are operational.
Officials say that the existing network of chargers which stretches from Srinagar to Bengaluru has been built with scalability in mind. Tata Power also maintains approximately 120,000 home chargers and around 1,200 electric bus charging points.
The pause reflects broader industry challenges: despite government incentives and growing EV sales in two- and three-wheeler segments, EV car adoption at just 7.6% of total vehicle sales in 2024 lags significantly behind India’s 2030 target of 30%.
Between states, Karnataka leads in public EV charging infrastructure with 6,097 stations, followed by Maharashtra (4,155) and Uttar Pradesh (2,326). Meanwhile, the government has earmarked funding under the PM E-Drive scheme to install 72,000 new chargers by FY26.
Industry analysts note that underutilization of existing chargers—less than 5% in Tata Power’s case—points to structural issues in demand forecasting, location planning, and consumer behavior rather than the availability of charging hardware.
Tata Power emphasizes that its slowdown is temporary, citing the need to align infrastructure growth with actual demand. The company remains poised to resume expansion once utilization improves and business cases stabilize.
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