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New Delhi: Every fifth petrol pump across the country now offers an EV charging facility as oil companies quadrupled the number of pumps with chargers in two years despite installation and consumer demand challenges.
EV charging facilities are available at about 17,900 pumps, with state-run oil companies accounting for 95% of these, according to the oil ministry data. Two years ago, only 4,100 pumps offered EV charging.
Indian Oil Corp is the leader with EV facilities available at 10,057 pumps. Hindustan Petroleum operates 3,705 pumps with chargers and Bharat Petroleum 3,146.
Utilisation remains extremely low as charging stations haven’t been able to address some fundamental challenges of EV owners, said an oil company executive engaged in setting up charging facilities at pumps.
“Most EVs are getting charged at home with slow chargers. It doesn’t make sense for people to drive to pumps to use slow chargers and return to collect their cars hours later,” he said, adding that the current demand is mostly for top-up charges by fast chargers, which take about 45 minutes to charge 80% of a car battery compared to 6 hours for a slow charger.
Just about a fifth of the chargers at petrol stations are fast chargers, according to the executive. More fast chargers are on the way. In addition, car manufacturers advise drivers to use fast chargers infrequently to prevent battery damage.
Even fast chargers find users only at large filling stations on highways with eating joints or other facilities where car drivers can use their waiting time, executives said. Smaller filling stations in cities find fewer customers.
Another challenge has been petrol pump dealers’ lukewarm approach to EV charging, which emanates mainly from limited returns. On average, a dealer can make INR 50 per hour in commission using a fast charger while he can make the same amount in minutes in his traditional petrol dispensing job, according to executives.
The falling cost of chargers has aided the expansion of charging facilities at pumps. Fast chargers’ cost has dropped by half in just two years, according to executives.
To learn more about the electric vehicle ecosystem and meet the key industry leaders, click here.
