India, for a while, has now been witnessing an intense push for the adoption of electric vehicles as the fuel prices remain sore high. While there is no inadequacy of government initiatives for the promotion of EVs, there are some teething issues plaguing the EV ecosystem.
To understand where the next point of development will take place, one has to examine the current problems for electric vehicle adoption in India, which range from systemic issues to consumer mindset, having a cumulative effect on the future of EVs in India.
1. Deficient Charging Infrastructure
The paucity of strong and extensive charging infrastructure is what adds to the distress of an EV owner. But at the same time, it cannot be denied how the Indian government and the private sector are actively engaged in setting up a robust and widespread charging infrastructure. The government intends to install up to 70,000 EV chargers across India in the coming years to strengthen the EV charging infrastructure in India. The work is already in full swing to deploy these EV charging stations at various petrol pumps across India. Also, a robust network of charging stations is being built by different companies and states. Tenders are being floated by the state governments for the setting up of charging stations and dozens of CPO start-ups have also prospered across the country.
2. Range Anxiety
One of the most lingering doubts clouding over an EV owner is the vehicle’s potential to reach the destination before the battery drains out and the non-availability of charging infrastructure. This turns out to be true, mainly for longer runs and highway drives. While there has been an uptick in EV sales for inter-city commute, the range anxiety to travel across cities is being actively addressed by the government with various initiatives in place. The Government and policymakers have acknowledged battery swapping as the downright answer for accelerating EV adoption in India by addressing range anxiety and second thoughts in adopting as well as considering the practical aspects of setting up charging infrastructure.
3. No dedicated parking spots
Where in India access for 4-wheelers to a dedicated parking spot is a distant dream, the question that arises is how will one set up their OEM supply charging station or charger? Organisations and residential buildings that do not have such dedicated slots, the EV charging conundrum is nothing but a parking fiasco. In the same regard, the State governments are introducing initiatives and implementing policies for the majority of residential, commercial, and workplace buildings to provide EV chargers as a necessity.
4. Lack of service options
A vehicle breakdown for all of us is a common phenomenon and with the ICE vehicles, people for the longest time have fixed the same. But in the case of EVs, you might land in a tough spot, as the technology is something our informal service network does not know. Though most Auto OEMs have widespread service and dealer networks across India, their EV Service network is yet to reach a substantial level. Also, Auto companies are providing on-road assistance, towing services, and along with portable, on-the-road charging facilities for their consumers. With the new technologies follows the issues. Catching up on the latest technologies has not been much of a task for a place like India and in the coming times, we will have a large pool of service stations and skilled technicians for treating EVs at every nook and corner of the country.
5. Lack of Standardisation
What is wrecking the present and the future of the EV market is the lack of standardisation. Every EV company providing a distinct charging port has emerged to be a stumbling block in the installation of a universal charging ecosystem. It has now become a curse as no specific charging station can be put up that can charge all types of electric vehicles. If well versed with the EV terminologies, these are the different charger connectors available, CCS / CCS Type 2, Bharat AC-001/Bharat DC-001, CHAdeMO, GB/T, Tesla Chargers; creating an issue with the supply of EV charging stations. The idea is to implement one standard for the auto OEMs and EVSE providers, for them to focus on the offering of just one type of product, which will result in speedy manufacturing, lowering the lead times, and the installation of a standardized charging network system that is in tune with all EVs.
6. Power infra upgrades
The increment in the electricity demand is going to be a matter of great concern and horrific sight. Determining the sanctioned load, spare capacity and power intake requirements of the EV chargers are a few quick things to check as a residential user. Another concern worth debating is the frequent power cuts and power backups, the solution to which is solar installations for power supply.
The challenges are soon going to be outweighed by the opportunities
EVs are inevitable and ICE vehicles need to completely disappear. Though the EV industry is still in a budding phase in India but is surely developing at a rapid pace. Even with the present-day challenges, electric vehicles have immense capability to reduce carbon footprints and provide a cost-effective and smart mode of transportation.