India’s electric vehicle transformation is facing a silent but significant roadblock. While the narrative surrounding EVs usually focuses on skyrocketing sales, sleek new models, and expanding public highway networks, a new report by the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) and Kazam reveals that the real challenge lies right in our parking spots.
The transition to electric mobility is slowing down not because people can’t afford the vehicles, but because India’s residential infrastructure simply isn’t ready to power them.
The Home Charging Gap
While EV sales in India skyrocketed from 50,000 in 2016 to over 23 lakh in 2025—heavily driven by two- and three-wheelers—the infrastructure at home has failed to keep pace.
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The Reality: Only 55% of prospective EV buyers have immediate access to home charging.
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The Hurdle: Another 30% can only charge after making significant electrical upgrades, meaning nearly 45% of Indian homes currently lack the safe infrastructure needed to support an EV.
Because of this gap, many owners resort to hazardous workarounds, using standard extension cords, temporary sockets, and shared connections. These makeshift solutions are not built for sustained EV loads and drastically increase the risk of electrical fires, grid overloads, and premature battery degradation.
The Apartment Complex Nightmare
The crisis is amplified in urban centers like Mumbai and Bengaluru, where 60% to 80% of the population lives in high-rises and gated communities.
“I don’t think affordability is the main concern because the cost of the charger is included in the vehicle. The bigger challenge is getting multiple stakeholders to work together so that installations can happen much faster.” — Akshay Shekhar, Co-founder & CEO, Kazam
For apartment dwellers, buying an EV triggers a bureaucratic nightmare. Residents must navigate a maze of permissions from landlords, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), and local utility companies just to upgrade wiring or assign a dedicated meter in a shared parking space.
A Threat to Gig-Economy Livelihoods
This infrastructure deficit isn’t just an inconvenience for the middle class; it directly impacts the livelihoods of gig workers and delivery partners.
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High Mileage: Commercial two-wheeler riders average 250 to 300 kilometers a week.
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Income Dependancy: For these workers, reliable overnight charging is directly tied to their daily wages.
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The Impact: Without a stable plug at home, delayed or expensive public charging leads to missed shifts, fewer deliveries, and direct financial loss.
The Verdict: Rebuilding the Foundation
As AEEE’s Sumedh Agarwal notes, the ultimate bottleneck isn’t the vehicle or the charger—it’s the internal wiring of India’s buildings.
The report concludes that residential readiness can no longer be treated as a secondary concern. If India expects to sustain its ambitious EV growth, the focus must shift away from the showroom floor and toward a national policy framework that defines, finances, and mandates EV-ready housing.
