India’s EV Momentum Holds Strong in 2025, but Infrastructure Faces Pressure to Keep Pace

India, Delhi 19 Nov: HERE Technologies, the leading mapping and location data company, and SBD Automotive, a global automotive research firm, jointly released the 2025 edition of the HERE–SBD EV Index. Now in its third year tracking the EV landscape in the U.S. and Europe and second consecutive year in India (31 states and union territories covered), the Index assesses EV infrastructure maturity and EV adoption metrics. This year’s findings reveal a maturing EV landscape in India, marked by strong consumer demand, shifting state-level rankings, and infrastructure challenges.

2025 HERE-SBD EV Index Rankings Snapshot

The Index is based on the following metrics (each ranked out of a maximum score of 25 for a total possible score out of 100):

• How far you must drive to find a charger: number of public EV chargers per road length.
• How quickly you can charge: the average power capacity of public EV chargers.
• Number of EVs on the road versus internal combustion engine (gas) vehicles: EV fleet share.
• Likelihood of finding an unoccupied charger: the ratio of registered EVs to public chargers.

This year’s Index introduces a balance score as a new layer of analysis, assessing how evenly each surveyed region is advancing across the four infrastructure metrics in order to support the key factors that must work in concert to support an optimal EV uptake and charging experience. In addition, a consumer survey of over 1,000 drivers across India was conducted by SBD to better understand how drivers experience daily travel and EV adoption barriers and motivations, as well as to examine perceptions, attitudes and experiences related to charging infrastructure.

The top overall surveyed Indian states and union territories in the HERE–SBD EV Index

(1) Chandigarh; (2) Karnataka; (3) Goa; (4) Delhi; (5) Tamil Nadu

The bottom overall surveyed Indian states and union territories in the HERE–SBD EV Index

(27) Jharkhand; (28) Assam; (29) Bihar; (30) Jammu and Kashmir; (31) Arunachal Pradesh

State-Level Leaders and Movers

• Chandigarh retains its first position with a score of 87.90, driven by a near 1% increase in BEV fleet share and continued policy support for 4-wheeler EVs and charger installation.
• Karnataka climbs from fourth to second place, benefiting from a strong charger per BEV score, despite a slight decline in actual charger availability.
• Goa, now ranked third, leads the country in BEV fleet share at 0.91%.
• Delhi continues to lead in charger density, with an estimate of one public charger for every 9 km of road.
• Tamil Nadu climbs to fifth, up from sixth last year, reflecting steady growth in EV fleet share.

India’s EV Growth: Strong Demand, Uneven Infrastructure

India added 6,800 new public charge points between 2024 and 2025, yet average charger power remained flat at 33 kW - a sign that while infrastructure is expanding, it’s not evolving quick enough to enable fast charging for the growing BEV fleet. The BEV-to-charger ratio increased from 12:1 in 2024 to 20:1 in 2025, suggesting that BEV adoption is accelerating faster than public charging deployment. While this trend of increasing BEVs per charger is expected in maturing markets, the rate of change is far too rapid for the current state of the Indian BEV market. This highlights the need for continued investment in infrastructure.

The conclusion of the FAME II program in September 2024 marked a shift in India’s policy landscape. PM E-DRIVE now leads the charge, focusing on electrification of 2/3-wheelers and commercial vehicles. While 4-wheelers are not directly targeted, they continue to benefit from sales tax deductions and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which supports domestic manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles.

India’s Consumers: Young, Motivated, and Future-Focused

Insights from the HERE–SBD consumer survey reinforce India’s position as one of the most EV-optimistic markets among the three regions surveyed – India, Europe and the U.S. Surveyed Indian EV owners have an average age of 35 years, making them a predominantly younger demographic, and 63% reside in major urban centers, indicating strong urban adoption.

Indian respondents selected more motivators for EV adoption than any other markets. Top reasons include environmental benefits, lower maintenance and running costs, better performance, and advanced in-car technology. Looking ahead, 49% of Indian survey respondents expect over half of all vehicles sold in 2030 to be electric, and support for phasing out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles within the next 10–15 years remains among the highest globally.

• Average age of EV owners in India is 35 years, compared to 46 in the U.S. and 46 on average in the EU.
• Respondents in India show the highest optimism for EV adoption among the regions surveyed, with 90% of respondents confident in the country’s ability to build supporting infrastructure.
• Respondents in India report the highest frequency of faulty public chargers, with 73% of surveyed EV owners having experienced a failed charging attempt.
• Perception of availability of charging infrastructure is the top barrier to adoption, cited by 47% of Indian respondents.
• More public charging stations are the most desired improvement (36%).
• India has the lowest EV range expectations, likely due to shorter urban commutes.

Abhijit Sengupta, Senior Director and Head of Business for HERE’s India and Southeast Asian business said, “India’s EV journey is accelerating, propelled by rising consumer interest and progressive state-level policies. As adoption surges, the strain on infrastructure becomes more evident. The 2025 HERE-SBD EV Index highlights both the promise and pressure points of India’s EV ecosystem. These insights can serve as a valuable guide for policymakers and industry leaders to align efforts, close infrastructure gaps, and build a more inclusive and sustainable mobility future for the country.”

“India’s transport sector stands on the cusp of rapid electrification, yet the challenges ahead are considerable,” said Robert Fisher, Senior Consulting Manager at SBD Automotive. “The nation must navigate the distinct requirements of its diverse mobility landscape, as the needs of two- and three-wheeler drivers differ greatly from those of car owners and public transport operators. Only through rigorous analysis of market dynamics, user sentiment, and charging infrastructure development can India create an electrification strategy that meets the needs of its increasingly mobile population.”

The EV Index provides a timely snapshot of the evolving landscape of EV adoption and infrastructure. As governments and industries continue to invest in electrification, the Index serves as a dynamic tool for understanding where progress is being made and where further efforts are needed to ensure a seamless transition to an all-electric future.

The full HERE-SBD EV Index 2025 rankings and report, alongside interactive visuals and maps.