87% Of Indian Drivers More Likely To Consider An EV

More than 31,500 public charging points were added in India since the previous HERE-SBD EV Index, while charging reliability remains a key concern among consumers.

As per the third annual India edition of the HERE-SBD EV Index, 87 percent of surveyed Indian drivers said they are more likely to consider purchasing an electric vehicle (EV) than they were a year ago. The report also found that more than 31,500 public charging points were added since the previous edition of the index.

The increase in charging infrastructure was accompanied by a 1.65GW rise in total charging power capacity. Average charger power increased from 32kW to 45kW, according to the report. However, charging reliability and accessibility continue to present challenges as EV adoption increases.

Telangana Leads HERE-SBD EV Index 2026

Telangana ranked first among the Indian states and union territories assessed in the 2026 index, having been ranked 25th in the previous edition. The report attributes the change to stronger charging-infrastructure metrics and the availability of complete EV fleet data.

Andhra Pradesh moved from 13th to second, with the state improving across all four index metrics. Chandigarh, which topped the 2025 ranking, moved to third despite an improvement in its underlying figures, as other states recorded faster progress.

Haryana and Rajasthan shared fourth place, with Rajasthan moving up from 11th. Delhi recorded one of the largest declines in the rankings, moving from fourth in 2025 to 17th in 2026.

EV Charging Network Expands By More Than 31,500 Points

The index recorded more than 31,500 public charge points added across India since last year's edition. This represents more than a fourfold increase in annual charger deployments compared with the previous cycle.

Total charging power capacity increased by 1.65GW, while average charger power rose from 32kW to 45kW. The report said the increase indicates greater deployment of higher-powered charging infrastructure.

Despite the expansion, the charging experience remains a concern for drivers, with reliability and accessibility identified as areas that will become increasingly important as the market develops.

Rising Fuel Costs Drive EV Interest

Rising fuel costs were cited as the strongest factor increasing interest in EVs, with 46 percent of respondents identifying it as a reason for their increased consideration of electric vehicles.

Improvements in EV range and charging speed were each cited by 36 percent of respondents. The survey also found that 61 percent would choose an EV over an internal combustion engine vehicle if vehicle price and specifications were equal.

Confidence in India's ability to develop charging infrastructure has also increased. Some 87 percent of respondents said they were confident that the country could develop the infrastructure needed to support growing EV adoption. Perceptions of local charging availability rose from 57 percent in 2025 to 62 percent in 2026.

Charging Reliability Remains A Barrier To EV Adoption

Limited charging infrastructure remained the most frequently cited barrier to EV adoption, identified by 46 percent of respondents. Driving range was a concern for 36 percent, while 30 percent cited charging costs.

The findings also highlight issues among existing EV owners. According to the survey, 83 percent said they had avoided trips because of charging concerns, while 77 percent reported encountering faulty charging stations that prevented them from charging.

The report therefore identifies the next stage of India's EV-market development as a challenge not only of expanding the number of chargers, but also of improving their reliability and accessibility.

HERE Technologies' General Manager for India and Southeast Asia, Abhijit Sengupta, said the growth in charging infrastructure needs to be accompanied by greater focus on whether drivers can locate, access and use chargers when required.

SBD Automotive Senior Consulting Manager Robert Fisher similarly pointed to charging reliability as a key issue, saying future market development would need to balance the expansion of charging infrastructure with the quality of the charging experience.

How HERE-SBD EV Index Measures EV Readiness

The HERE-SBD EV Index evaluates EV readiness across Indian states and union territories using four metrics, each carrying a maximum score of 25 for a total possible score of 100.

The metrics cover the number of public chargers relative to road length, the average power capability of public chargers, EV fleet share compared with internal combustion engine vehicles, and the ratio of EVs to public charging infrastructure.

The 2026 edition combines EV maturity rankings with a consumer survey covering more than 4,000 drivers across the US, Europe, India and Australia. The India assessment covers 34 states and union territories.