The electric vehicle market in India is growing rapidly, however the country will need to increase its charging infrastructure at a much greater rate. Anant Nahata, CEO and Managing Director at Exicom Tele-Systems said: “India will need at least 25,000 more DC fast charging stations over the next 3 years.”
This shows the importance of public fast charging stations in the industry. More electric cars, SUVs, 2 wheelers, 3 wheelers and commercial vehicles are being released meaning owners will need charging infrastructure.
As opposed to AC charging stations, DC fast charging stations provide power to the electric vehicle battery directly. This means vehicles compatible with DC fast charging will have significantly quicker charging times. This is incredibly important for vehicles travelling on motorways, public charging stations, fleets and commercial vehicles. Having a large network of fast charging stations could help electric car owners travel between cities with ease.
India has already started to implement a good network of public charging stations for EVs. However, as there are more electric vehicles on the market, infrastructure will need to be implemented in Tier 2 and 3 cities as well as motorways, industrial areas, shopping areas and transport hubs.
Having at least 25,000 new DC fast charging stations will help improve the network. However, the location, capacity and reliability of the charging stations will also play a key role. If the charging stations are not reliable and EV owners are still having issues with downtime, bad accessibility and long waiting times then it will not help.
Motorways will be an important aspect. As passenger electric vehicles grow in capability to travel further distances on a single charge, having a good spread of fast charging stations on major national motorways could allow for EVs to travel long distances with ease. This would encourage those who are worried about charging availability to look into switching to electric vehicles.
Fast charging stations will also be needed for electric taxis, electric fleet vehicles, delivery vans and other commercial vehicles. These vehicles typically travel more kilometres per day so having fast charging stations will be key.
Having sufficient electrical supply will be an important aspect. DC fast charging stations with a high capacity will need a good connection to the grid, good power distribution and efficient energy management systems. Those who run the charging stations may also need to look into battery energy storage solutions.
Companies like Exicom Tele-Systems are involved in the EV charging industry in India. They offer charging solutions for home, commercial and public use. As the network grows, companies involved in charging infrastructure, power electronics and energy management will play a key role.
The EV market in India is starting to reach a stage where charging infrastructure will become just as important as vehicle availability, battery improvements and range. Automakers are releasing electric SUVs and cars with bigger battery packs and faster charging speeds. However, this will depend on whether EV owners have access to reliable charging stations.
Over the next 3 years it will be important to ensure India can implement the required 25,000 DC fast charging stations. If they can be well distributed and reliable, this will help overcome one of the main concerns with EVs and take the market to the next level.