After the initial charge, many Indian EV owners are putting on the brakes or, more worryingly, switching to the reverse gear, put off by the slow expansion of the charging infrastructure
A new survey reveals a troubling trend for India’s electric vehicle (EV) market: 51 percent of current EV owners are contemplating a switch back to conventional vehicles. Conducted by Park+, an app servicing 1.5 crore cars in India, the survey of 500 EV owners across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Bangalore highlights significant dissatisfaction among electric car users.
Despite India’s network of over 20,000 charging stations, 88 percent of respondents reported persistent "charging anxiety," struggling with the accessibility and reliability of these stations. Furthermore, 73 percent expressed concerns about maintenance costs and repair clarity. Lower-than-expected resale values disheartened a notable 33 percent for their EVs.
The survey also found that the Tata Nexon EV and Tata Punch EV are the leading choices among current models, with 61 percent and 19 percent popularity, respectively. Amit Lakhotia, Founder & CEO of Park+, commented on the findings, emphasising the urgent need for a robust and smart EV charging infrastructure to alleviate owner frustrations. He stressed that while range anxiety is decreasing, charging anxiety remains a significant issue, and Park+ is committed to improving the EV ownership experience.
This survey underscores the critical challenges facing India’s EV sector and signals an urgent need for immediate advancements in EV infrastructure and support systems.