Electricity Connection Costs Could Slow Dealership Charging Rollout: FADA

Delhi’s EV policy requires automakers to install public chargers at dealerships, but securing additional power load can cost more than the equipment itself.

By Anurag Chaturvedi

27 Oct 2026

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FADA President Sai Giridhar (C)

Automobile dealerships could help expand India’s electric vehicle charging network, but the cost of securing additional electricity load remains a hurdle, Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) President Sai Giridhar said at the Autocar Professional EV Conclave in Delhi.

A mandate by the Delhi government, effective July 1, 2026, requires automakers operating in the capital to deploy at least one public charging station at each dealership, with a minimum of three charging points for two- and three-wheelers and two for four-wheelers.

Giridhar said dealerships offer space and convenient locations for chargers.
“The problem is getting the electricity load connection from the local state governments or the local distribution companies,” he said. The cost of securing additional load is “sometimes or most of the time” higher than the charger itself.

Giridhar said expanding EV adoption beyond metros would also require investment in dealership service infrastructure. EV workshops need trained technicians and specialised equipment, including battery-repair capabilities.

Moreover, Giridhar emphasized on lower margins and less service revenue from EVs than from ICE vehicles at the dealership, further slowing the electrification ecosystem.