Government Taps BHEL To Lead EV Charging Network Expansion Under PM E-Drive Scheme

Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy chaired a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Road Transport and Highways and Heavy Industries. The discussion focused on accelerating the installation of EV charging stations across India under the PM E-Drive scheme.

The government plans to install around 72,000 public EV charging stations with a total outlay of Rs 2,000 crore. These will be located along 50 national highway corridors and at metro cities, airports, railway stations, toll plazas, fuel outlets and other high-traffic areas.

Union Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy said, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is on the path to becoming a global model for sustainable transport. The PM E-Drive scheme is a transformative initiative aimed at giving our citizens access to clean, affordable, and convenient mobility options. We are not just building infrastructure; we are building the foundation for energy security and green economic growth.”

Kartikey Hariyani, CEO, Chargezone, said, “We commend the Government’s proactive approach under the PM E-DRIVE scheme. The plan to roll out 72,000 charging stations is a vital step toward building the infrastructure needed for widespread EV adoption. At ChargeZone, we’ve expanded our network to over 13,500 charging stations, making us India’s largest EV charging platform. Our interoperable network, developed through OCPI-based partnerships, serves over 8,000 EV users daily and supports nearly 70% of the country’s electric car population."

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is being considered to coordinate demand aggregation and oversee implementation. BHEL will also help evaluate proposals from states and ensure standardisation across regions.

“The clean energy transition cannot succeed in silos. This meeting reflects our commitment to working as one government. Ministries, public sector enterprises, and states are all aligned to deliver results on ground. We are confident that PM E-Drive will catalyse new industries, generate green jobs, and offer seamless electric mobility to every Indian,” the minister added.

Akshit Bansal, Founder & CEO Statiq, said, "The government’s ambitious rollout of 72,000 new EV charging stations under the PM E-DRIVE scheme is a landmark step towards building a robust and accessible charging infrastructure across India. This Rs 2000 crore initiative will not only accelerate the transition to clean mobility but also address one of the biggest concerns for potential EV buyers—charging convenience and accessibility."

BHEL is also being considered for the development of a unified digital super app that will serve as a single platform for EV users across India. The app will feature real-time slot booking, payment integration, charger availability status and progress dashboards for tracking national deployment under the PM E-Drive scheme. BHEL will also coordinate with states and ministries to compile and evaluate proposals for charger installations.

Aanchal Jain, CEO, PMI Electro Mobility, said, "We welcome the Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s visionary push for nationwide EV charging infrastructure under the PM E-DRIVE scheme. This move is a significant step toward accelerating India’s transition to clean mobility. A robust charging network is critical for building consumer confidence and enabling widespread EV adoption. At PMI Electro Mobility, we are proud to be part of this green revolution and fully support initiatives that strengthen the ecosystem for sustainable and electric public transportation."

Suyash Gupta, Director General, Indian Auto LPG Coalition, said, "The government’s investment in expanding EV charging infrastructure under the PM E-DRIVE scheme is a commendable step towards a cleaner, greener future. However, with over 33 crore vehicles on Indian roads still running on petrol and diesel, vehicle emissions remain a major contributor to urban air pollution. While EVs are undoubtedly the future, the immediate and practical solution lies in retrofitting our existing vehicle fleet and actively promoting Auto LPG as a proven, clean alternative fuel. Auto LPG is already available across the country, reduces harmful emissions by up to 68% compared to petrol, and can be adopted quickly through retrofitment—delivering immediate air quality benefits."