India is investing 2 billion euros in building a charging network. How can Chinese charging pile companies “dig for gold” and break the deadlock?

India is investing 2 billion euros in building a charging network. How can Chinese charging pile companies “dig for gold” and break the deadlock?

The Indian government recently unveiled a major initiative—a 109 billion rupee (approximately €1.12 billion) PM E-Drive program—to build 72,000 public charging stations by 2026, covering 50 national highways, gas stations, airports, and other high-traffic hubs. This initiative not only addresses the “range anxiety” associated with the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, but also exposes a significant gap in India’s new energy market: Currently, India has only eight public charging stations for every 10,000 electric vehicles, far fewer than China’s 250. Meanwhile, India’s state-owned giant BHEL will lead the development of a unified charging management platform, integrating reservation, payment, and monitoring functions, in an effort to create a closed-loop “vehicle-charging-network” ecosystem.

Subsidy recipients:

Electric two-wheelers (e-2W): Support is planned for approximately 2.479 million electric two-wheelers, covering both commercial and personal-use vehicles. Electric three-wheelers (e-3W): Support is planned for approximately 320,000 electric three-wheelers, including electric rickshaws and electric pushcarts. Electric buses (e-Bus): Support is planned for 14,028 electric buses, primarily for urban public transport. Electric ambulances, electric trucks, and other emerging electric vehicle categories.

Charging Infrastructure:

Plans include establishing approximately 72,300 public charging stations nationwide, with a focus on deployment along 50 national highway corridors. Charging stations will be primarily located in high-density areas such as petrol stations, railway stations, airports, and toll booths. The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) intends to commission Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to consolidate charging station requirements and develop a unified application enabling vehicle owners to check charging point status, book charging slots, make online payments, and monitor charging progress.

【Reefs and Storms: Localisation Challenges Should Not Be Underestimated】

1. Certification Barriers India mandates BIS certification (Bureau of Indian Standards), with testing cycles lasting 6-8 months. Although IEC 61851 serves as an international passport, enterprises still require additional investment for localised adaptation.

2. Price Erosion The Indian market exhibits extreme price sensitivity, with local firms potentially leveraging policy protections to initiate price wars. Chinese manufacturers must balance cost and quality to avoid falling into the ‘price-for-volume’ trap. Strategies include reducing maintenance costs through modular design or offering bundled services combining ‘basic models with value-added services’.

3. Operational network deficiencies Response times to charging point faults directly impact user experience. Chinese enterprises should establish maintenance centres in collaboration with local partners or adopt AI-powered remote diagnostics.