Que: India has made notable progress in renewable power generation. However, mobility still depends heavily on imported fuels. How do you view this structural imbalance in the broader context of India’s energy transition?

Ans: This imbalance is fundamentally an energy security and economic resilience issue. India continues to import nearly 85 percent of its energy needs, particularly in the form of crude oil and natural gas, which exposes the economy to global price volatility and geopolitical risks.

At the same time, India has made strong progress in renewable energy capacity. However, this transition remains incomplete unless it extends into mobility, which is one of the largest consumers of imported fuels.

The next phase of the transition is about making domestically generated electricity usable at scale in transportation. EV adoption, supported by reliable charging infrastructure, plays a critical role in enabling this shift and reducing dependence on imported fuels.

As charging networks scale, they effectively act as the bridge between renewable energy generation and mobility consumption.

Que: In your view, how significant is the gap between vehicle growth and the deployment of charging infrastructure today?

Ans: The gap needs to be understood in the context of how EVs are actually used. Over 90 percent of charging happens at home or at workplaces, which means public charging demand is not evenly distributed.

The real demand for public charging is concentrated on highways and intercity corridors, particularly between Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities where long-distance travel is frequent.

The challenge today is less about demand mismatch and more about execution including land availability, power connectivity, and regulatory processes which impact the pace of infrastructure deployment. This is why infrastructure deployment needs to be aligned with actual usage patterns rather than being evenly distributed across regions.

Que: ChargeZone has been focusing on high-speed charging networks. What has been your strategy for identifying and prioritising deployment locations?

Ans: The strategy is anchored around intercity travel, where public charging demand is most critical. ChargeZone prioritises highway corridors connecting Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities to enable long-distance EV mobility.

In parallel, the company is building open-access city hubs for high-utilisation fleet operators such as electric taxis, where uptime and fast turnaround are essential.

Site selection also plays a key role. Co-locating charging stations with existing amenities has helped improve utilisation by enhancing user convenience. This approach ensures that infrastructure is deployed where utilisation is predictable, which is critical for long-term network viability.

Que: A key narrative is linking EV charging with renewable energy. How feasible is it to power EV infrastructure through clean energy at scale in India today?

Ans: EVs address emissions from tank to wheel, but the overall impact depends on how the electricity is generated. If the grid is not powered by renewables, emissions are effectively shifted rather than eliminated.

ChargeZone has begun integrating renewable energy into its network, starting with around 9 MW capacity in states such as Tamil Nadu, as part of its effort to decarbonise highway charging.

Scaling this further will depend on continued renewable energy expansion and alignment with state-level policies and regulations.

Que: What policy interventions or regulatory changes would you prioritise to accelerate charging network expansion?

Ans: The policy environment has improved, particularly through reforms under the Electricity Act. Around 12 states have reduced or eliminated demand charges, which strengthens the economics of charging infrastructure.

The key requirement going forward is simplification of on-ground processes, especially land classification and electricity connections, which currently involve multiple stakeholders and can impact deployment timelines. Streamlining these processes will be critical to accelerating deployment at scale.

Que: Charging infrastructure is capital-intensive. How do you assess the current business viability of EV charging in India?

Ans: EV charging is an infrastructure-led business where viability improves with scale and utilisation.

ChargeZone has seen strong growth, including triple-digit annual growth and consistent monthly growth. Network utilisation has reached around 12 percent, which is a meaningful level at this stage.

Improved utilisation is being driven by better site selection and co-location with amenities, while policy support is helping strengthen overall economics.

Que: What does a well-developed EV charging ecosystem in India look like by 2030?

Ans: India's EV charging industry is reaching a clear inflection point. Demand is increasingly concentrated along highways and intercity corridors, while within cities, EV owners already complete over 90 percent of their charging at home or at the workplace. Infrastructure investment now needs to align with this reality, and the industry is steadily moving in that direction.

The bigger challenge today is not demand, but execution. Land availability, power connectivity, and regulatory clearances continue to be the primary bottlenecks slowing large-scale expansion. At the same time, policy support is improving. Nearly 12 states have reduced or eliminated demand charges, strengthening the commercial viability of charging stations and accelerating deployment.

By 2027, the industry’s growth will likely be shaped by three major layers: reliable intercity highway corridors, high-utilisation urban hubs serving fleet operators, and multi-vehicle charging stations designed for personal EVs, e-buses, and commercial trucks. In parallel, community charging within urban residential complexes is emerging as a critical next frontier.

The significance of this expansion goes beyond industry growth alone. Scaling EV charging infrastructure enables greater utilisation of domestically generated renewable energy for transportation, helping reduce dependence in a sector where it has traditionally been most pronounced.