Now Reading: EV charging consumption jumps 72% in FY26, reaches 1,460 MU
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EV charging consumption jumps 72% in FY26, reaches 1,460 MU
Electricity consumption at public charging stations (PCS) in India rose by over 72% in FY26, reaching 1,460 million units, according to data from the Central Electricity Authority. The Times of India reports…
Electricity consumption at public charging stations (PCS) in India rose by over 72% in FY26, reaching 1,460 million units, according to data from the Central Electricity Authority. The Times of India reports that heavy-duty chargers used by buses and trucks consumed 74% of the electricity, while light and medium vehicles accounted for 26%. The data excludes several states and Union territories that did not provide information.
The Hindu Business Line reports a slightly higher figure of 1,558.69 million units for FY26, noting that consumption has more than tripled from FY24's 465.85 MU. It highlights Uttar Pradesh as a new entrant, with its share rising from below 1% before FY24 to 5.12% in FY26, driven by e-rickshaws, three-wheelers and NCR spillover. Karnataka, which has India's largest installed charging base, and Telangana also saw rapid growth, while Delhi's consumption continued to rise but its national share declined as other states caught up.
The Times of India notes that total EV sales crossed 2.5 million units in 2025, a 24.6% year-on-year increase, accounting for 8.5% of new vehicle registrations. Kazam CEO Akshay Shekhar told The Hindu Business Line that electricity consumption at PCS could cross 2,500-3,000 MU in FY27, depending on charger deployment and commercial fleet adoption.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both sources report the same CEA data but frame it differently: Times of India leads with the 72% growth rate and heavy-duty charger dominance, emphasising government policy and net-zero goals, while The Hindu Business Line focuses on the geographic spread of EV adoption, highlighting states like Uttar Pradesh emerging beyond traditional hubs. The 98 MU discrepancy in total consumption (1,460 vs 1,558.69) between the two reports is unexplained and suggests different datasets or time periods. The neutral middle ground: EV charging infrastructure is expanding rapidly both in volume and geography, with the next phase shifting from vehicle sales to energy infrastructure capacity, which will determine if the 2,500-3,000 MU FY27 forecast materialises.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report), thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
