All You Need to Know About Public EV Charging in India
Electric vehicles are not only easy to drive but also environment-friendly as it eliminates the need for petrol.
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About Public EV Charging Infrastructure in India
The availability, affordability, and eco-friendliness of electric vehicles in India have made people move to this modern and innovative technology. They are compatible with the environment as well as more economical when compared to cars that run on gasoline. Moreover, with the increasing trend for such vehicles, purchasing car insurance for electric vehicles has also become easier than before.
One of the key requirements to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles is the availability of public charging stations in India. The Government has taken multiple initiatives to increase the development of public EV charging points across the country.
So far, India has installed 1,640 operational public charging stations in cities like Surat, Pune, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, etc. The Government has also involved private and public agencies like NTPC, BEE, EESL, etc. to further enhance the public EV charging infrastructure in India. Moreover, between 2021 and 2022, there has also been an additional installation of 678 public electric vehicle charging stations in 9 more cities.
The Government has also planned to further expand the Public EV charging infrastructure across the country. In this regard, the Oil Corporation has planned to launch 22,000 more EV charging stations on National Highways and other prominent cities in India.
Where Car I Find Public EV Charging Stations in India?
India is slowly marching towards making more and more EV charging solutions readily available to electric car users all over the country. If you are planning to purchase an Electric car or are struggling to charge one, here is how you can find public electric vehicle charging stations in India.
Electric Vehicle Manufacturers
Every electric car manufacturer in India provides electric vehicle charging stations of their own. You can quickly find an EV charging station at your nearby automobile dealer store. You will also be able to locate an electric vehicle charging station from the automobile manufacturer from where you have bought your electric car.
Moreover, some automobile manufacturers have set up dedicated EV charging stations at public places like shopping malls, public gathering places, major tourist spots, etc. to help people charge their electric vehicles with ease. They also offer dedicated customer care services that help customers locate nearby electric vehicle charging stations.
Google Maps
Another easy and quick way to locate EV charging solutions for your electric car is by using Google Maps. With increasing technological advancements, Google Maps have started showing nearby electric vehicle charging stations that you can find simply by searching for one.
Moreover, Google also offers the option of Android Auto services, which integrate with Google Maps and your EV system so that you can find an EV charging station near you.
EV Charging Station Locator App
There are many charging station locator apps available for both Android and iOS users that use the geotagging features to locate a nearby electric vehicle charging station. With the help of these apps, you can quickly search for an electric vehicle charging station near you and get its direction.
You May Also Read - Why Electric Car Insurance is Expensive
Things to Consider when Looking for EV Charging Stations
Make sure to consider these points before looking for an electric vehicle charging station in India:
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How Far is the Charging Station?
One of the most important factors is the distance between your location and the EV charging station. There may be cases when you do not have enough charging left to go very far for a charging station. Therefore, make sure to consider reaching a nearby charging station before your car’s battery becomes dead.
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Is It Compatible with Your Car?
There may be instances when the EV charger is not compatible with the charging plug of your electric vehicle. With an increasing number of electric vehicles in the market, the chances of incompatible charging plugs have become common. Though the Government is looking to establish standards for EV charging, there are still many charging connectors that are being used by the EV charging stations.
Thus, it becomes essential that you check the compatibility of your car’s charging plug with that available in the EV charging station.
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Can You Leave Your Car Unattended?
Charging an electric vehicle is a time-consuming process. In such cases, you must check whether you can leave your electric car unattended or not. There should be a proper parking station in case your car is taking longer to charge, such as 4 to 5 hours. Thus, make sure to check how much feasible it is to leave your electric car unattended at the EV charging station.
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How Much Does It Cost?
Price is also an important factor considered while charging your electric vehicle from a public EV charging station in India. While charging an electric car is less expensive than a petrol or diesel one, it is still advisable to check the cost of charging your electric vehicle beforehand. Also, make sure to check the payment modes available as many stations only accept payment via online modes.
So it would be better to check the cost and payment modes available before choosing an EV charging station for your electric vehicle.
Wrapping Up!
Due to increasing pollution in India, using an electric vehicle can be a great alternative to conventional gasoline-run vehicles. They are relatively newer with a lot of scope provided there are enough EV charging solutions available in India. Moreover, with the increase in demand for EV vehicles, many insurance companies have also started selling electric car insurance at affordable rates. If you are looking to purchase electric vehicle insurance, you can compare the insurance rates of different plans on websites like Policybazaar.com and choose the right plan for your electric car.
