By Yash Pratap Singh, Senior Consultant – Technology & Transformation, Deloitte India
UP leads India in EV adoption—but its charging network remains slow, uneven, and dominated by PSUs.
India leads the e-mobility transition with 5.67 million registered electric vehicles (EVs) (as per e-Vahan, MoRTH, 2025) with EV charging infrastructure reached 26,367 public stations by April 2025, with over 50 per cent installed in calendar year 2024 alone, indicating a rapid scale-up. However, Uttar Pradesh stands out as the leader with 0.66 million EVs on the road—more than any other state with a 4.34 per cent share of EVs in total vehicles sold, as per PIB May, 2025. This growth has been powered largely by e-rickshaws along with the state’s supportive EV manufacturing base and policy framework. Yet the backbone of this transition tells a different story. According to the India E-Mobility Index (IMEI), Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and NITI Aayog, Uttar Pradesh currently hosts 2,099 charging stations with 2,376 chargers. On ground, this position puts the state ahead of many peers but beneath the number lies a story of uneven distribution, public sector undertaking (PSU) dominance and over-reliance on slow chargers.
If Uttar Pradesh wants to sustain its EV momentum, it must move beyond government-led rollouts and adopt a balanced, private-driven, district-targeted and fast charging-ready strategy. Without this shift, Uttar Pradesh’s EV revolution could slow into an urban-centric, slow-moving transition.
Source: IMEI Niti Aayog, BEE, 2025, Author’s compilation and analysis
According to the IEMI, NITI Aayog’s dashboard, only top 10 districts with the highest number of charging stations– Gautambuddh Nagar (100), Agra (85), Prayagraj (80), Lucknow (71), Gonda (56), Bareilly (52), Lakhimpur Kheri (48), Jaunpur (46), Varanasi (46) and Pratapgarh (45) account for nearly 30 per cent of all charging stations. Meanwhile, Bundelkhand and Purvanchal districts such as Chitrakoot, Mahoba, Lalitpur and Shravasti remain underserved with few than 10-15 charging stations. For a state that depends heavily on rural mobility and agricultural mechanization, this unevenness risks widening the urban-rural mobility divide.
Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) charging network is heavily dominated by PSUs. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) alone constitutes 51 per cent of all charging stations followed by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (16 per cent), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (13.9 per cent) and Tata Power (6.2 per cent). Together, PSUs account for 85 per cent of the state’s network while private charging point operators (CPOs) like Kazam, Hero Vida and Ather Energy hold less than 5 per cent. Nearly 85 per cent of stations are run by government entities, leaving only 15 per cent with private players while PSU dominance has ensured rapid rollout, the next phase under PM e-Drive scheme must diversify operator participation to bring in innovation, competition and consumer-friendly models.
AC Dominates but fast charging is scarce
Technology adoption shows a skewed picture: 85 per cent of chargers are alternating current (AC), 13 per cent are direct current (DC), and 2 per cent are AC/DC combo chargers. AC chargers may work for e-rickshaws, but for buses, trucks, and cars they are simply inadequate. Without a decisive push for dedicated corridor hubs along UP’s expressways and freight corridors, commercial electrification will stall.
Policy and institutional readiness
UP’s EV policy gives tax breaks, subsidies, and fee waivers, while the PM e-Drive scheme backs EV adoption across key segments – e2Ws, e-3Ws (including e-rickshaws), e-buses, e-trucks, ambulances and fast charging infrastructure nationally but even the productive policies need strong institutions for delivery. This is where Invest UP, the state’s nodal agency, must play a bigger role—by cutting approval delays, drawing private investment, and working with Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) to upgrade the grid. Today, the gaps are clear: most chargers (about 80 per cent) are slow AC, over 70 per cent are concentrated in just 10 districts, and rural regions like Bundelkhand and Purvanchal have barely 2 per cent of the network. Public sector players dominate, leaving little space for private innovation, and poor app integration means many users don’t even know where charging stations are. The way forward is simple: set district-wise targets, attract more private and startup players, ensure at least 40 per cent of new hubs have fast chargers, modernise rural feeders, and launch a single state-wide EV app for real-time information.
Conclusion
UP leads India in EV adoption—but without faster chargers, rural reach, and stronger institutions, its lead may not last. Uttar Pradesh may boast India’s highest EV count 0.66 million EVs with 2,000+ charging stations but numbers alone don’t tell the full story. The reality is stark: 70 per cent of chargers sit in just 10 districts, and slow AC points dominate the network. Unless corrected, this imbalance will choke future growth. Uttar Pradesh’s forward-looking approach with Uttar Pradesh Renewable and EV Infrastructure Limited (subsidiary of UPPCL), the PM e-Drive scheme, and Invest UP driving investment has the pillars it needs to build a robust EV ecosystem if it can align them effectively. What’s missing is sharper execution: district-wise targets, more fast chargers, and rural grid upgrades.
Uttar Pradesh has a unique opportunity to establish itself as the benchmark for India’s EV transition. Yet, without corrective measures, its current advantage risks narrowing into an urban-centric, PSU-driven system rather than a truly inclusive and competitive clean mobility ecosystem. The choice is clear, but the clock is ticking.
