The absence of robust public charging infrastructure is holding back electric vehicles (EVs) from becoming a buyer’s first choice according to Maruti Suzuki India.
Public charging viability a key hurdle
Speaking during a media roundtable, Partho Banerjee, senior executive officer (marketing & sales) said that while range anxiety has largely been addressed with many new EVs offering up to 500 km on a single charge, the real bottleneck lies in public charging availability and viability.
Banerjee said that though the segment’s share has risen from 2.4% to 4.5% in recent years in the country, but an electric is yet to become the primary car for most buyers. He added that the development of public charging infrastructure will be crucial for faster adoption, as driving range anxiety remains a key deterrent for customers considering an EV as their main household vehicle.
Talking about the low investment in public charging, he said it stems from poor economic viability, as limited usage and high operating costs discourage private players from committing capital. “About 95% of EV users charge at home, where the cost is Rs 7-Rs 10 per unit. Public charging, at Rs 20-Rs 21 per unit, is used mostly in emergencies. This is not a viable business model for operators, so investments have been slow,” Banerjee said.
He called it a “chicken-and-egg situation”, where without a dense public charging network, EV buyers lack confidence to use them as primary vehicles, but without higher adoption, infrastructure players hesitate to invest.
Banerjee stressed that even if public chargers are rarely used, their presence offers critical reassurance to customers. “I may not charge outside, but knowing there is a charging point every 50-100 km gives me peace of mind,” he said.
Until infrastructure and charging speeds improve, he believes EVs will continue to be a second or third vehicle in most households rather than the primary car.
The total electric passenger vehicle registrations rose to 15,528 units last month compared with 8,037 units in the year-ago period.
Maruti’s plans and upcoming EV launch
He noted that Maruti Suzuki is working to establish charging infrastructure in 100 cities, but asserted that highways still lack adequate charging stations. Maruti is also set to introduce its first electric model — e-VITARA — later this year.
Banerjee also said all kinds of vehicular technologies are going to hit the domestic market and it should be left to the consumer to choose as per their requirement. “It is a discretion of the customer based on his need, what he wants, that’s going to happen. But yes, one technology should not be given more weightage than the other technologies. It should be the customer selecting, actually,” he said.
On reasons for a drop in sales of entry-level cars, Banerjee said that cost escalation due to various new regulations has led to a fall in demand. “The cost has gone up and affordability is a problem. We are trying our level best by offering the best products. Very soon, we are going to introduce a financial package of owning Alto for just Rs 2,999,” he said.
The impact of the recent repo rate reduction is yet to benefit the end buyers, he added.
Commemorating a decade of its Nexa sales network, the company has unveiled the Grand Vitara PHANTOM BLAQ edition, offered in matte black colour wrap.
