Centre Cuts EV Charger Benchmark Prices to Support Faster Infrastructure Rollout

India’s electric mobility push has received a cost-side reset after the Centre revised benchmark prices for electric vehicle chargers, reflecting sharper competition and falling equipment prices across the charging ecosystem, as per LiveMint report. 

Benchmark Revisions Across Charger Capacities 

The Ministry of Heavy Industries has reduced benchmark prices for EV chargers of multiple capacities. The benchmark cost of a 60 kW charger has been cut by 28%, while the price for a 30 kW charger has been lowered by 17%.  

For higher-capacity infrastructure, the benchmark for 120 kW chargers has been reduced by 13%. Industry estimates indicate that the benchmark cost of a 100 kW charger now stands at around ₹13 lakh, compared with about ₹18 lakh earlier.  

The previous benchmark framework was set in 2022, when charger prices were materially higher than current market levels. 

Impact on Subsidies and Charging Rollout 

Benchmark prices are used to calculate subsidy payouts under government programmes such as the PM E-Drive scheme, which supports the deployment of EV charging infrastructure.  

Operators said the sharper benchmarks could reduce subsidy claims, particularly as subsidies can cover the full cost of chargers in the 50 kW and 100 kW categories in some cases.  

The revised structure is expected to align public support more closely with prevailing market costs while encouraging faster charger deployment. 

Market Maturity and Adoption Trends 

India currently has around 29,200 public charging stations, with the government pushing accelerated rollout to support rising EV adoption in 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers and passenger vehicles.  

EV penetration increased from about 1.3% in FY22 to nearly 4.7% in FY24, driven by lower vehicle prices, policy backing and wider charging availability. 

Read More: Varroc Engineering Shares Jumps Over 5% on Securing $48 Million Deal to Make EV Chargers for Global Car Maker! 

Conclusion 

By recalibrating EV charger benchmark prices, the Centre has adjusted subsidy mechanics to match a maturing market, potentially easing fiscal outgo while supporting faster and broader expansion of charging infrastructure nationwide. 

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