The electric cars revolution is well and truly underway in India. As more and more people make the switch to EV cars, the demand for charging infrastructure is witnessing meteoric growth. This has led to a number of positive developments, prime among them being the reduction in EV charger prices across the country.
According to industry estimates, EV car charger prices in India have fallen by almost 30-40% in the last 2 years alone. This can be attributed to a number of factors, including improving local manufacturing capabilities, decreasing dependency on imports, and the entry of new players in the EV charging space.
EV car charger prices in India vary widely depending on the type of charging, the power output, and additional smart features. However, almost all types of chargers, be it slow AC chargers, fast DC chargers or super-fast DC chargers, are available today at very competitive rates. Here’s a look at the indicative pricing for the most in-demand EV chargers in India:
- Slow AC Home Chargers (3.3kW) – Rs. 15,000 – Rs. 30,000
- Fast AC Home Chargers (7.2kW) – Rs. 33,000 – Rs. 50,000
- Fast AC Chargers (15-25kW) – Rs. 50,000 – Rs. 80,000
- DC Fast Chargers (50-150kW) – Rs. 6 – 8 lakhs
- Ultra Fast DC Chargers (150kW+) – Rs. 16 – 25 lakhs
In addition to falling hardware prices, the cost per charge at public EV charging stations has also come down substantially. The average cost per charge is now between Rs. 8-12 per kWh, less than half of what it used to be 2-3 years back.
Amazon India has emerged as a popular marketplace for buying EV chargers online. Here, one can find chargers from well known brands like ABB, Exicom, Delta, Zevpoint, Fortum, Tata, Mahindra and more at very reasonable prices. For instance, a simple 3.3kW AC charger from Exicom is available for just Rs. 18,000. Similarly, a 25kW DC fast charger from Delta can be purchased for Rs. 1.15 lakhs. Charger prices on Amazon tend to be 10-15% cheaper than retail stores.
As Delhi govt aims to deploy 18000 EV charging points by 2024, it recently slashed the subsidy on DC fast chargers for EVs, reducing the prices to around Rs. 6 lakhs per charger. This move will encourage more public and private entities to install DC fast charging stations across Delhi-NCR.
Several municipal corporations like those in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru are also collaborating with Discoms to set up public EV charging stations. While corporations provide the locations, Discoms like BSES, Adani and Tata Power install the chargers and associated infrastructure. The setup cost per charging station ranges from Rs. 1.5-50 lakhs depending on the type of chargers and number of charging points.
The fall in charger prices bodes well for the EV industry as a whole. Affordable and accessible charging infrastructure is crucial for accelerating EV adoption in India. It is speculated that charger prices could fall by another 15-20% over the next 2-3 years as manufacturing scales up and disruptive technologies like battery swapping gain ground.
Leading EV automakers like Tata Motors and MG Motor now provide an EV home charger as part of the standard package at no additional cost. Tata has also set up an extensive network of fast charging stations across major cities. Their Electric Highway initiative allows Tata EV owners to access discounted DC fast charging while undertaking inter-city trips.
Other automakers like Hyundai, Mahindra and BYD are expected to follow suit. Hyundai, for instance, has plans to install DC fast chargers across dealerships in 35 cities this year itself. They have already set up free DC fast charging stations in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.
The Indian government is also ramping up incentives for buyers under the updated FAME III scheme. Subsidies of up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs are available on certain EV car models. Such incentives further offset the cost of purchasing and installing wall chargers for home use.
In summary, the accelerating shift to electric mobility in India has catalyzed investment and innovation in charging infrastructure. As a result, EV owners today have access to a range of affordable, convenient and fast charging options. Charger prices are expected to become even more competitive as focus on domestic manufacturing and disruptive technologies increases. The time has never been better for making the switch to electric!
Leave a Reply