How to Choose the Best Location for an EV Charging Station in India

The first question to ask is: How many EVs are likely to need charging here?

General traffic volume isn't enough. A road may have thousands of vehicles passing every day but relatively few EVs. Look at:

• Number of electric cars
• Electric taxis
• Electric commercial vehicles
• Electric three-wheelers
• EV fleet activity
• Existing charging demand

If possible, study the growth of EV registrations in the city or region as well. A location with increasing EV adoption can have stronger long-term potential.

Some roads naturally attract more charging demand. Examples include:

• National highways
• State highways
• Expressways
• Major city corridors
• Intercity routes
• Airport routes
• Industrial corridors

Long-distance EV drivers are particularly dependent on public charging infrastructure. For highway locations, the ideal station should be positioned where drivers can conveniently stop without making a significant detour.

A charging station doesn't always need to be on a highway. Locations where vehicles naturally remain parked for extended periods can also be useful. Potential examples include:

Shopping Centres

Customers may spend an hour or more shopping while their vehicle charges.

Hotels

Guests may leave their vehicles parked for several hours or overnight.

Restaurants

Customers can charge while eating.

Offices

Employees can charge during working hours.

Commercial Parking

Vehicles may remain parked for long periods.

The charging speed should match the typical parking duration.

Location and charger selection should be considered together. For example:

Hotel or Office

AC charging or moderate-power charging may be appropriate where vehicles remain parked for several hours.

Highway

DC fast charging may be more suitable because travelers generally want to minimize charging time.

Fleet Hub

Higher-capacity charging may be appropriate depending on vehicle usage and fleet requirements.

Urban Commercial Area

A combination of charging speeds may work depending on customer behavior.

A great location may not be a great charging site if adequate electrical infrastructure is unavailable. Before finalizing the property, determine:

• Available sanctioned load
• Required charging capacity
• Existing electrical infrastructure
• Transformer requirements
• Connection feasibility
• Cable routing
• Electrical upgrade requirements

A location requiring major electrical upgrades can significantly increase the initial investment.

EV drivers should be able to reach the charger easily. Check:

• Entry and exit points
• Road width
• Turning radius
• Traffic conditions
• Parking availability
• Queueing space
• Directional signage
• Visibility from the main road

A charger that technically exists but is difficult to access may have poor utilization. For highway stations, avoid locations that require complicated U-turns or significant detours unless the location offers a strong reason for drivers to stop.

Charging takes time, even with fast chargers. Providing customers with useful amenities can improve the overall charging experience. Potential amenities include:

• Restaurants
• Cafés
• Restrooms
• Convenience stores
• Hotels
• Shopping
• Waiting areas
• Wi-Fi

For highway charging stations, amenities can be particularly valuable. A driver is more likely to choose a station where they can comfortably spend their charging time.

Before selecting a site, check existing charging stations nearby. Look at:

• Number of competitors
• Charger types
• Charging speeds
• Pricing
• Customer reviews
• Station uptime
• Operating hours
• Amenities

Competition does not automatically mean you should reject a location. In fact, existing charging stations can indicate that there is already EV demand. The more important question is:

A location with excellent EV traffic can still be commercially unattractive if the rent is too high. Calculate:

Don't select a location purely because it has high traffic. You need to determine whether the expected revenue can support the total operating cost.

If you own suitable property, the economics may be different because there may be no monthly commercial rent.

Drivers need to know that a charging station exists. A location with good visibility can make discovery easier. Consider:

• Road-facing frontage
• Signage opportunities
• Direction boards
• Lighting
• Station branding
• Visibility from approaching traffic

For a new charging station, clear signage can be particularly important.

EV charging stations should provide a safe environment for customers and vehicles. Evaluate:

• Lighting
• CCTV availability
• Traffic movement
• Pedestrian movement
• Emergency access
• Electrical safety
• Security arrangements

Stations operating late at night should receive additional attention to lighting and security.

Different business locations serve different customer segments.

Highway EV Charging Station

Best suited for intercity travel, long-distance EVs, fast charging and commercial vehicles. Important factors:

Urban EV Charging Station

Suitable for daily commuters, taxi drivers, apartment residents and commercial EV users. Important factors:

Hotel Charging Station

Hotels can be attractive because vehicles remain parked for extended periods. Potential benefits include guest convenience, an additional hotel amenity, longer charging duration and potential additional revenue.

Restaurant Charging Station

Restaurants can combine charging with customer dining time. This can create a mutually beneficial model where customers charge while spending money at the restaurant.

Office Charging Station

Workplaces can provide charging to employees and visitors. Vehicles may remain parked for several hours, making longer charging sessions practical.

Fleet Charging Location

Fleet operators have predictable charging requirements. Potential customers include taxi fleets, delivery fleets, logistics companies, corporate fleets and commercial EV operators. Fleet charging can potentially provide recurring demand.