Public EV Charging in India
Complete guide to India's public EV charging network — 12,000+ stations, top operators (Tata Power EZ, ChargeZone, Ather Grid, BSES), apps to find stations, costs ₹15-25/kWh, and free charging locations.
Top Public Charging Networks in India
| Network | Stations | Cost/kWh | Cities | Speciality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tata Power EZ Charge | 1,500+ | ₹17 | All major | Largest network · Tata-backed |
| Tata.ev (Tata Motors) | 500+ | ₹15 | 30+ cities | Free for Tata EV owners (limited) |
| ChargeZone | 800+ | ₹20-22 | Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi | Premium DC fast chargers |
| Statiq | 700+ | ₹18-22 | Pan-India | Multi-network aggregator |
| Magenta ChargeGrid | 500+ | ₹18 | Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad | Mall + parking lot focus |
| BSES Public Chargers | 150+ | FREE / ₹10 | Delhi only | Govt-subsidized · Delhi exclusive |
| Ather Grid | 1,200+ | FREE for Ather | Bangalore + 35 cities | 2-wheeler focus, free for owners |
| EESL Energy | 200+ | ₹15 | Govt buildings | Public sector chargers |
Best EV Charging Apps in India
PluGo by Tata Power
Find 1,500+ Tata Power EZ Charge stations. UPI/card payment, real-time availability, booking ahead.
Statiq
Multi-network aggregator showing all major operators (Tata, ChargeZone, Magenta) in one app. Best for unfamiliar cities.
ChargeZone
Premium DC fast chargers (50-150 kW). Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi focus. Network expanding to highways.
Ather Grid (Free)
1,200+ stations FREE for Ather scooter owners. Largest 2W charging network in India. Worth choosing Ather just for this perk.
ElectreeFi
Payment-focused app + station finder. Works across multiple charging networks. Common in Hyderabad, Pune.
Magenta ChargeGrid
Mall and parking-lot focused. Most premium malls in MMR + Hyderabad have Magenta chargers — often free for shoppers.
Free Public EV Charging Locations
Many places offer FREE EV charging. Use these for cost-free trips:
Premium Malls
Phoenix MarketCity (Mumbai/Pune/Bangalore), Express Avenue (Chennai), VR Mall (Chennai), DLF Mall (Noida), Forum (Bangalore). Free 4-hour charging for shoppers.
IT Parks / Workplaces
Whitefield (Bangalore), Hinjewadi (Pune), OMR (Chennai), Cyber City (Gurugram), HiTec City (Hyderabad). Free for employees/visitors.
Premium Hotels
Marriott, Taj, ITC, Hyatt offer free EV charging for guests. Many resort destinations (Goa, Coorg, Manali) have hotel chargers.
Govt Buildings (BSES Delhi)
BSES + Tata Power-DDL operate FREE public chargers at govt offices in Delhi. ~150 stations across NCR.
EV Showrooms
Tata Motors, MG Motor, Hyundai showrooms often offer free charging for their car owners. Great for long-distance trip stopovers.
Ather Grid (2-wheelers)
1,200+ stations FREE for Ather scooter owners. Bangalore: 100+, other major cities 20-50 each.
Buying EV — Get Charging-Inclusive Quote
Most EV brands include free home charger + 1-year free public charging credits with new car purchase. Get a quote that includes all charging benefits.
Other Charging Options
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public EV charging stations are in India?
12,000+ as of 2026. Bangalore 500+, Delhi NCR 800+, Mumbai 350+, Chennai 250+. Top networks: Tata Power EZ (1,500+), ChargeZone, Ather Grid (1,200+ free for Ather), BSES Public.
How much does public EV charging cost?
₹15-25/kWh on average. Tata Power: ₹17/kWh. ChargeZone DC fast: ₹20-25/kWh. Even at ₹20/kWh, EV running cost is ₹2.85/km vs petrol's ₹6-8/km — still much cheaper.
Best EV charging apps in India?
(1) PluGo by Tata Power — Tata Power EZ network (largest), (2) Statiq — multi-network aggregator, (3) ChargeZone — premium DC fast, (4) Ather Grid (free for Ather), (5) ElectreeFi, (6) Magenta.
Are public EV chargers reliable in India?
Top tier (Tata Power, BSES, Ather): 95%+ uptime. Mid tier (ChargeZone, Statiq): 85-90%. Budget: 70-80%. For long trips: plan backup chargers within 30 km. Apps show real-time availability.
Where to find free EV charging stations?
(1) Premium malls (Phoenix, VR, DLF) — free 4-hr for shoppers, (2) IT parks (Whitefield, OMR), (3) Ather Grid (1,200+ free for Ather owners), (4) BSES public chargers Delhi (~150 free), (5) Premium hotels (Marriott, Taj), (6) Some EV showrooms.