Chargers, Roadside Help, Repairs: Three Gaps That Could Slow India's EV Push

For years, the case for electric vehicles in India rested largely on cheaper batteries, lower running costs and government incentives. Those factors still matter. But they are no longer the only questions a buyer weighs before signing on the dotted line.

Increasingly, the deciding factor is what happens after the vehicle leaves the showroom — when the battery runs low, when the vehicle breaks down, or when it needs servicing.

Varun R, Chief Marketing Officer at ReadyAssist, a roadside assistance company, points to three areas that could shape how quickly electric mobility becomes a genuine mass-market option in India: roadside assistance, charging infrastructure and skilled service support.

1. Help when an EV breaks down

For owners of petrol and diesel vehicles, a breakdown usually means a familiar process: call a helpline, wait for a mechanic, get moving again. That ecosystem has been built over decades. Electric vehicles are newer, and the support network around them is still developing.

As EVs spread beyond the largest cities, owners need assurance that help will be available on unfamiliar routes and in smaller towns. "Consumers need to feel confident about owning one over the long term," Varun said, adding that access to assistance is one of the practical factors that builds such confidence.

Technology platforms, technicians and other industry players are now building capabilities specifically for electric vehicles. For buyers, the eventual result could be that a breakdown does not automatically turn into a major ownership headache.

2. Charging is growing, but reliability matters

Range anxiety — the fear of running out of charge mid-journey — has long been cited as a reason buyers hesitate. India's public charging network has expanded sharply in response.

The government said in December 2025 that the country had 29,151 public EV charging stations. By July 2026, the Ministry of Heavy Industries put the figure at 52,718, of which 16,561 were equipped with fast chargers for cars.

Under the PM E-DRIVE scheme, Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated for public EV charging infrastructure.

Yet adding chargers alone may not convince buyers. A charger has to be available, in working order and easy to locate. It also needs to be placed where people actually travel, rather than only where installation was easiest.

"The next phase of charging infrastructure is therefore not just about more chargers, but about making them reliable and accessible enough for people to plan journeys with confidence," Varun told NDTV.

3. Who will service these vehicles?

This question becomes sharper outside the biggest cities. Electric vehicles do not require the same mechanical expertise as conventional vehicles. Technicians need knowledge of electric drivetrains, batteries, diagnostics and safety procedures.

In Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, the shortage of such trained hands can be a real hurdle. If a buyer cannot find a qualified technician nearby, even a relatively affordable EV can start to feel expensive or risky to own.

Building a wider network of EV-trained technicians and service centres is therefore part of the same task as building chargers — and, industry figures argue, just as important.

"The opportunity now is to build an ecosystem where an EV is not only affordable to purchase, but also easy to charge, service and get assistance for wherever it is being used," Varun said.

India's EV market will continue to be shaped by prices and policy. But breakdown support, dependable charging and trained service may decide whether electric vehicles remain a niche choice or become a practical default for ordinary buyers.