Indian Oil Leads the Charge with 10,000+ EV Stations

Indian Oil Corp leads the way, providing EV services at 10,057 fueling stations. Hindustan Petroleum operates 3,705 pumps that have chargers, whereas Bharat Petroleum has 3,146. According to information from the oil ministry, around 17,900 gas stations provide EV charging options, with state-owned oil firms accounting for 95% of this number. Two years prior, only 4,100 pumps offered EV charging.

An oil company official involved in creating charging infrastructure at gas stations mentioned that usage remains quite limited because charging stations have not addressed crucial problems encountered by EV owners.

"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.

According to the executive, nearly one-fifth of the chargers at gas stations are rapid chargers. Additional fast chargers are coming soon. Moreover, car manufacturers recommend that drivers rarely use rapid chargers to avoid harming the battery.

According to executives, fast chargers are typically found only at major gas stations along highways that have dining options or other amenities where drivers can utilize their waiting time. Smaller gas stations in urban areas attract fewer patrons.

Approximately 20% of the chargers found at gas stations are fast chargers. More fast chargers are arriving shortly. Additionally, automotive manufacturers advise drivers to limit their use of fast chargers to prevent damage to the battery.

Executives state that even fast chargers are primarily available to users at major fuel stations on highways which offer dining choices or other conveniences for drivers to use while they wait. Smaller gas stations located in cities face a lower number of customers.