Readiness of highways and expressways to support electric vehicles

The government has said that a total of 236 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations have been installed along four major highway corridors connecting Bengaluru to Chennai, Hyderabad, Mysuru and Pune. These installations have been carried out by public-sector Oil Marketing Companies, while private players continue to add new stations based on demand.

According to the information provided, 149 charging stations have been installed and 87 have been fully commissioned across the selected corridors. The Bengaluru–Pune Highway has seen the highest installation with 109 chargers, followed by 64 on the Bengaluru–Hyderabad route, 33 on the Bengaluru–Mysuru expressway and 30 on the Bengaluru–Chennai corridor. Location-wise details have been compiled in an annexure.

The government noted that setting up an EV charging station is an unlicensed activity under the guidelines of the Ministry of Power, allowing private companies to freely install charging infrastructure. As a result, the number of highway chargers is expected to grow rapidly as EV adoption increases.

While no formal study has been undertaken to measure the adequacy of charging facilities on these specific routes, a broader national assessment has been completed for the deployment of Zero-Emission Trucks. The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser identified ten priority corridors for early electrification of freight transport, naming the Bengaluru–Chennai corridor among the most prepared.

Officials also stated that India’s national power transmission grid is capable of supporting the increasing load from EV charging stations. Continuous upgrades to the grid ensure reliable power transfer between regions, which the government says will help meet future EV demand on highways.

The government emphasised that both public and private interventions are contributing to the expansion of charging infrastructure, reaffirming its commitment to enabling long-distance EV travel across the country.