India to expand charging infrastructure for EV growth, introduces new E-Voucher scheme

India will work towards ensuring adequate charging infrastructure to support the growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across the country, said HD Kumaraswamy, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, at a seminar today.

The Minister also announced that the Ministry of Heavy Industries will introduce e-vouchers for EV buyers to access demand incentives under the newly approved PM E-DRIVE (PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement) scheme.

Speaking at the FICCI and Ministry of Heavy Industries' Seminar on ‘FAME’s Impact on India’s EV Landscape,’ Kumaraswamy emphasized the government's commitment to expanding the EV charging network. He mentioned that the government is working on installing 10,763 public charging stations across the country under the FAME-II scheme.

The e-voucher system marks a new approach to promoting EV adoption. "This is a distinctive feature of the new scheme," Kumaraswamy explained. He added that the details of the e-voucher system are in advanced stages and will be shared soon.

The PM E-DRIVE scheme, recently approved by the Union Cabinet, aims to accelerate EV adoption by offering upfront incentives and developing necessary charging infrastructure. “Our objectives include reducing environmental impact, improving air quality, and strengthening the electric vehicle manufacturing industry,” Kumaraswamy said.

The PM E-DRIVE scheme introduces several new measures, including a ₹500 crore fund for deploying e-ambulances, ₹500 crore to promote electric truck adoption, and ₹2,000 crore for the installation of 22,000 fast chargers for electric four-wheelers, 1,800 for e-buses, and 48,400 for e-two and three-wheelers.

Reflecting on the progress of FAME-II, Kumaraswamy noted that 93 percent of the targeted vehicles have been incentivized, with 92 percent of the allocated ₹11,500 crore utilized. The scheme has also supported public transportation, with 4,853 e-buses supplied out of 6,862 sanctioned for intra-city operations as of July 31, 2024.

Dr Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, reported that over 92 percent of the FAME-II targets have been met. FICCI President and Mahindra Group CEO & MD, Dr Anish Shah, highlighted FAME-II as a transformative policy for India’s EV sector, noting that the electric three-wheeler industry, which was negligible three years ago, now constitutes 20 percent of the market, with expectations to reach full adoption in the next five years.

Vinod Aggarwal, Immediate Past President of SIAM and MD & CEO of VE Commercial Vehicles, discussed the FAME-II scheme’s success in promoting e-mobility in India, pointing to market growth in two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and cars. Passenger EV sales increased by over 90 percent, and electric two-wheeler sales rose by more than 30 percent compared to the previous year.

Vikrampati Singhania, Vice President of ACMA & MD of J K Fenner India, stressed the auto component industry's role in supporting sustainable mobility. He highlighted the importance of innovation, research and development, and technological advancement to remain competitive in the evolving EV and autonomous vehicle markets. Singhania advocated for investment in R&D, local production, and collaborations to drive future industry growth.