NEW DELHI: Electricity consumption at public charging stations (PCS) jumped by over 72% in 2025-26, indicating a steady rise in the use of electric vehicles – private and commercial – as India’s automotive sector shifts towards cleaner energy.Data compiled by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) showed that 848 million units (MU) of electricity were consumed by public chargers in FY25, which increased to 1,460 MU in FY26. Over 74% of the electricity was consumed at heavy-duty public chargers used by electric buses, trucks, high-capacity passenger coaches and commercial fleet vehicles, while light and medium personal and commercial e-vehicles consumed 26%. In FY25, heavy-duty and medium and light vehicles accounted for 70% and 30% of electricity consumption, respectively.The data, however, is not comprehensive as it does not include electricity consumed by public chargers in all north-eastern states, as well as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the UTs of Puducherry, Chandigarh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. CEA said power distribution companies in those states and UTs did not provide the relevant information.CEA said information on PCS was required to assess progress in the development of a reliable EV charging ecosystem, ensure energy security and reduce emission intensity, to make necessary policy interventions.”The data on energy consumption in these EV charging stations is also important for the purpose of load forecasting, distribution system planning and integrated resource planning in the country,” the report stated.
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Public chargers in Maharashtra consumed nearly 378 MU, or 26% of India’s total energy consumption at PCS, followed by Delhi (359 MU), Karnataka (213 MU) and Telangana (111 MU).With govt pushing for adoption of EVs to foster a cleaner environment and achieve its net-zero emissions goal by 2070, total EV sales in India crossed 2.5 million units in 2025, marking a robust 24.6% year-on-year growth and accounting for nearly 8.5% of all new vehicle registrations, driven by strong growth in the two-wheeler, three-wheeler and passenger vehicle segments.
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