The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has notified operational guidelines for deploying electric vehicle (EV) public charging stations under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) program.

Subsidies will be provided for EV public charging stations (PCS) and battery swapping stations (BSS) or battery charging stations (BCS). While subsidies will primarily cover upstream infrastructure costs, support may also extend to EV supply equipment (EVSE) costs in certain cases.

The subsidy will be calculated as a percentage of the benchmark costs published by either the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), the Ministry of Power, or the actual costs, whichever is lower. All refundable deposits are excluded from eligible costs.

The upstream infrastructure includes distribution transformers, low-tension and high-tension cables, AC distribution boxes, circuit breakers, isolators, protection equipment, mounting structures, fencing, and civil works.

EVSE, by definition, comprises chargers and charging guns. Funding support under the program includes up to 100% coverage of project costs, including upstream infrastructure.

Locations

The guidelines categorize locations for EV PCS deployment into subsidy categories from A to D.

• Category A includes government-owned premises, such as state and central government offices, residential complexes, hospitals, educational institutions, central public sector enterprises establishments, and other public sector facilities. These locations are eligible for a 100% subsidy on upstream infrastructure and EVSE, provided that the chargers are open to unrestricted public access.
• Category B includes railway stations, airports managed by the Airports Authority of India, retail outlets of public sector oil marketing companies, bus stations operated by state transport undertakings, metro stations, municipal parking lots, public sector ports, and toll plazas or way-side amenities controlled by the National Highways Authority of India and state governments. These sites will receive subsidies of 80% on upstream infrastructure and 70% on EVSE.
• Category C applies to all other locations not covered under Categories A or B. This includes streets, shopping malls, market complexes, and highways or expressways. These sites will receive subsidies of 80% only on upstream infrastructure.
• Category D is reserved for BSS and BCS at any location. Subsidies for these will be 80% of the cost of upstream infrastructure.

Benchmark Costs

Benchmark costs notified by BEE and the Ministry of Power will serve as the ceiling for subsidy calculations. For upstream infrastructure, the benchmark costs are ₹604,000 (~$6,813.59) for EV PCS up to 50 kW, ₹1.48 million (~$16,670.19) for up to 100 kW, ₹1.9 million (~$21,387.51) for up to 150 kW, and ₹2.4 million (~$27,027.47) for stations above 150 kW.

Costs for EV supply equipment are benchmarked at ₹725,000 (~$8,164.19) for 50 kW and ₹1.16 million (~$13,058.19) for 100 kW chargers, specifically for CCS-II connectors. Benchmark costs for 240 kW and 360 kW CCS-II chargers are not specified. Similarly, no benchmark costs have been provided for 12 kW chargers using low-emission vehicle direct current (LEVDC) or low-emission AC/DC combination connectors.

Charging Connector Standards

The guidelines specify connector standards in line with the Indian Standard (IS 17017 series). For electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers, the standards are Light EV DC and Light EV AC/DC Combo, both with a capacity of up to 12 kW.

For electric four-wheelers, e-buses, and e-trucks, the standard is CCS-II DC, with charger capacities ranging from 50 kW to 250 kW. For high-power charging of e-buses and e-trucks, CCS-II is mandated with capacities ranging from 250 kW to 500 kW. Each charging gun must have a minimum capacity of 120 kW to ensure fast charging.

Implementation and Subsidy Disbursement

The subsidy disbursement mechanism follows a structured, four-step process.

• Step 1 requires proposal preparation and submission by nodal agencies, which will identify suitable charging locations, aggregate demand, and prepare detailed proposals for submission to MHI through the online PM E-DRIVE portal. Proposals must include details on the locations, number of chargers, vehicle segments, charger capacities, requested subsidy, and the implementation mechanism, whether through direct agency execution or through a charge point operator (CPO).
• Step 2 involves procurement, electricity connections, and the request for the release of the first tranche of subsidy. Upon approval, the nodal agency or the appointed CPO must initiate procurement of upstream infrastructure and EVSE. The CPO’s selection must be conducted through transparent bidding. After procurement and payment to distribution companies (DISCOMs), 70% of the subsidy will be released upon submission of an undertaking certifying compliance with the phased manufacturing program (PMP) guidelines and the Ministry of Power charging standards. If the nodal agency installs EV PCS itself, advance release of the first tranche may be considered, subject to submission of the undertaking.
• Step 3 mandates deployment and operational monitoring. Nodal agencies and CPOs must commission the stations, update progress on the portal, ensure data sharing with the National Unified Hub being developed by MHI, and maintain charger uptime and availability.
• Step 4 covers the release of the second tranche after commissioning and energization. Agencies must submit undertakings certifying that stations are commissioned, compliant with PMP, and integrated into the National Unified Hub. The same process will apply to BSS and BCS projects, with location details required in the respective annexures.

Eligible Entities

Under the program, eligible entities include the Indian government ministries, central public sector enterprises, state and union territory governments, and state public sector undertakings.

Nodal agencies must aggregate demand across cities and highways, in coordination with urban local bodies, state highway authorities, DISCOMs, metro rail companies, and other public departments.

Priority for EV PCS deployment will be given to cities with a population of one million or more, as per the 2011 census, Smart Cities notified by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, satellite towns of major metropolitan areas, state and union territory capitals, and National Clean Air Program cities.

Highways with heavy vehicular volumes, connections between major cities, industrial hubs, and ports will also be prioritized in consultation with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

EV sales in India reached 530,386 units in the second quarter of 2025, an over 34% year-over-year increase from 396,719 units.

In April this year, MHI mandated a 100% domestic content requirement for 18 EV components, including the traction battery pack, battery management system, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.