EV index: Chandigarh, Goa & Delhi best places to own electric vehicle

Chandigarh, Goa, Delhi, Maharashtra and Karnataka are the five best places in India to own an electric vehicle (EV), according to a new study by the mapping technology firm Here Technologies and the research consultancy SBD Automotive. On the other hand, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and Sikkim are places in the country where it is most problematic owning an EV, the study adds.

The index “ranks a list of selected Indian states and union territories based on key metrics that influence the adoption and usability of EVs”, according to the official website of Here Technologies, and has been released to commemorate the World EV Day on September 9.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STUDY

Chandigarh tops the list owing to its comprehensive Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Deployment plan that provides vital incentives for EV purchase and charger installation. “Chandigarh has the highest number of chargers per BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), with 148 chargers serving a relatively small population of 179 BEVs,” the website explains.

Delhi shows maximum improvement in terms of EV infrastructure, and earns the highest score in this department. On an average, Delhi has one charger in every 12.5 kilometre stretch of road, ensuring that “EV drivers have easy access to charging facilities, addressing one of the key barriers to widespread EV adoption — range anxiety, which refers to the fear of running out of battery charge before finding a charging station”.

Uttar Pradesh has the largest BEV count on road, at around 18,300, highlighting “the state’s significant role in driving the national transition to electric mobility”.

Rajasthan’s vehicle count has the highest percentage of BEVs, at 0.049 per cent, which underlines the fact that the state encourages “an environment conducive to EV adoption”.

Manipur is among states with best power capacity of chargers, although the availability of just one recorded charger in the state shows lack of adequate infrastructure and the need to invest in accessibility.

“As EV adoption continues to grow in India, innovative solutions will become more important than before to support this transition,” Abhijit Sengupta, Senior Director and head of business for India and Southeast Asia, Here Technologies, notes.

“Government incentives and consumer education will continue to play a significant role in accelerating the transition as the market moves beyond early adopters and into the majority,” says Robert Fisher, Electrification and Sustainability Principal at SBD Automotive.

The Here-SBD study has been conducted on passenger cars, two-wheelers and three-wheelers. The study does not take into account electric buses and electric trucks.