The industry is moving beyond a hardware deployment approach towards creating an integrated charging ecosystem. Localization of manufacturing also has broader economic significance. Building charging infrastructure domestically can strengthen supply chains, generate employment, accelerate innovation, and support India’s vision of becoming self-reliant in emerging technologies, says Benny Parihar, Founder & MD, EVERTA in an interview with EVolution Auto India.
Q: EVERTA has set an ambitious target of capturing 15% of India’s EV charging market by 2030. How do you see domestic charging infrastructure players like EVERTA shaping the evolution of India’s EV ecosystem?
Benny Parihar: India’s EV transition will ultimately be defined not just by vehicle adoption, but by the strength, accessibility, and reliability of the charging ecosystem supporting it. At EVERTA, we are playing a defining role in this evolution by building solutions specifically designed for Indian operating conditions and mobility patterns.
As EV adoption expands across passenger vehicles, commercial fleets, buses, and last-mile mobility, India will require charging infrastructure that is scalable, localized, and commercially viable. Beyond simply deploying chargers, the next phase of growth will be driven by factors such as network uptime, service responsiveness, interoperability, and strategic partnerships with charge point operators, fleet owners, and businesses.
The industry is moving beyond a hardware deployment approach towards creating an integrated charging ecosystem. Localization of manufacturing also has broader economic significance. Building charging infrastructure domestically can strengthen supply chains, generate employment, accelerate innovation, and support India’s vision of becoming self-reliant in emerging technologies.
At EVERTA, our manufacturing facility near Bengaluru is designed for precision, quality, and scalability, producing high-performance DC fast chargers ranging from 60 kW to 320 kW tailored for Indian conditions. Through our technology licensing partnership with StarCharge, a global EV charging leader with over two million chargers deployed across 60 countries, we combine proven global technology with localized manufacturing, customization, and service capabilities. This is further strengthened by our 24/7 support and nationwide service network, ensuring high uptime and long-term reliability for customers.
Q: With EVERTA manufacturing footprint, how do you assess India’s current capabilities in EV charging equipment manufacturing, and how critical is deeper localisation for scaling infrastructure reliably?
Benny Parihar: India’s manufacturing capabilities in EV charging infrastructure has progressed significantly over the last three to four years, but a meaningful gap still exists between assembly and true engineering independence. A large part of the industry continues to rely on imported power electronics, control boards, and software stacks, effectively integrating technologies developed elsewhere for Indian conditions.
Indigenising power electronics and rare-earth-based components presents both technical and supply chain challenges. Addressing these requires sustained investment in advanced manufacturing, R&D capabilities, and skilled talent, areas that are still evolving at scale in India. From a supply-chain perspective, global concentration of critical components creates challenges around cost, access, and technology.
At EVERTA, localization is a core pillar of our long-term strategy. We aim to cross 50% domestic value addition in the first phase and are on a defined path to achieving 100% localization by 2027. Our focus includes high-value and technically complex components such as power electronics, control systems, power modules, enclosures, wiring harnesses, and key sub-assemblies. Building these capabilities will require sustained investment in local R&D, supplier development, testing infrastructure, and a strong domestic ecosystem capable of supporting advanced manufacturing at scale.
Q: Charging reliability remains a key concern for both consumers and fleet operators. In your experience, what are the most pressing on-ground challenges, and where do current infrastructure providers fall short?
Benny Parihar: Charging reliability will play a defining role in shaping long-term consumer confidence and accelerating EV adoption in India. As EV usage grows across consumer and commercial segments, reliability will become just as important as the number of chargers being deployed.
Consumers evaluate the EV ecosystem not only on vehicle performance but also on confidence that charging infrastructure will support their mobility needs seamlessly. Issues such as charger downtime, payment failures, incompatibility, and inconsistent availability directly affect trust and can slow adoption.
To support large-scale EV adoption, charging infrastructure should increasingly be treated as a critical public utility rather than only a private infrastructure investment. Clear uptime standards, service-level benchmarks, remote monitoring requirements, transparent reporting, and accountability measures can strengthen the ecosystem and significantly improve the charging experience. Over the long term, reliability and grid readiness will play a crucial role in sustaining consumer confidence.
Q: EVERTA is focusing on high-power DC fast charging solutions. How critical is the expansion of such infrastructure for enabling fleet electrification and supporting long-distance EV adoption in India?
Benny Parihar: The expansion of high-power DC fast charging infrastructure will be critical in driving the next phase of EV adoption in India, particularly for fleet electrification and long-distance mobility. As India targets significant EV penetration by 2030, the need for rapid and reliable charging infrastructure will increase substantially.
For commercial fleets, charging speed directly impacts operational efficiency and profitability. Long charging durations reduce vehicle utilization, while high-power DC fast chargers significantly minimize downtime and improve productivity. This becomes especially important for logistics fleets, buses, and intercity mobility.
At EVERTA, we are focused on high-performance DC fast charging solutions ranging from 60 kW to 320 kW because we believe India requires infrastructure built not only for current demand but also for future scale. The focus is not just on installing chargers, but on building a reliable, high-uptime charging ecosystem capable of supporting electric mobility at scale.
Q: Beyond faster charging speeds, what technological capabilities such as interoperability, smart software, or predictive maintenance will be most important in future-proofing India’s charging infrastructure?
Benny Parihar: Interoperability, intelligent software capabilities, and long-term reliability will be critical to future-proofing India’s charging ecosystem. Standardization and seamless integration across platforms will play an important role in building consumer trust and enabling large-scale adoption.
EVERTA’s DC fast chargers comply with relevant Indian and global standards and are designed for compatibility with both current and future EV platforms. We actively support open standards and common protocols to simplify integration with charge point operators and utility systems.
Our uptime-first philosophy, supported by remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, readily available spares, and 24/7 support, helps ensure reliable performance. Additionally, our chargers are designed to integrate with energy storage systems, helping fleet operators optimize energy costs while supporting utilities in managing grid demand efficiently.
Q: How important is alignment between charging infrastructure providers and national initiatives like FAME and Atmanirbhar Bharat in accelerating EV adoption?
Benny Parihar: Alignment between charging infrastructure providers and national initiatives such as FAME, PM E-DRIVE, and Atmanirbhar Bharat will be critical in accelerating EV adoption and strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities.
While existing initiatives have created strong momentum, a dedicated PLI framework for EV charging infrastructure could further accelerate growth. Such a framework should prioritize high domestic value addition, especially for advanced components including power electronics, control systems, and energy-linked technologies.
Production-linked incentives tied to domestic value thresholds, R&D grants, and support for specialized manufacturing infrastructure can help build a stronger ecosystem. Linking incentives to deployment and export outcomes while encouraging collaboration across industry, utilities, and academia can create a more scalable and innovation-driven ecosystem.
Q: What specific policy or regulatory interventions would you prioritise to improve not just the scale, but also the quality and reliability of EV charging infrastructure in India?
Benny Parihar: The next phase of policy support for EV charging infrastructure in India should focus not only on accelerating deployment but also on improving quality, reliability, and user experience.
Greater standardization and interoperability across charging networks can create a more seamless experience across vehicle categories and charging providers. Faster approvals and single-window clearance mechanisms can reduce execution timelines and accelerate deployment.
Policy frameworks should increasingly incentivize charger performance and uptime rather than focusing solely on installation numbers. Metrics such as network availability, maintenance response time, and operational reliability can strengthen industry standards and improve service quality.
Additionally, stronger support for domestic manufacturing and localization will be essential in building a resilient and self-sustaining EV ecosystem for India.
Q: As EV adoption accelerates, what do you see as the biggest risks if charging infrastructure does not scale in parallel — and how could that impact overall ecosystem growth?
Benny Parihar: One of the biggest risks of EV adoption outpacing charging infrastructure growth is the emergence of a significant gap between consumer demand and user experience. While vehicle adoption may continue to accelerate, inadequate charging availability, long waiting times, and unreliable charging networks could negatively impact consumer confidence and slow the pace of transition.
The impact could be even greater for commercial fleets, logistics operators, and long-distance mobility, where vehicle utilization directly influences business economics. Limited access to fast and dependable charging infrastructure can lead to increased downtime, lower operational efficiency, and slower fleet electrification.
Insufficient infrastructure expansion could create bottlenecks across the broader EV ecosystem, affecting OEMs, fleet operators, charging providers, and supply chains alike. Building a reliable, accessible, and high-uptime charging ecosystem will be equally important to sustaining long-term industry growth and enabling EV adoption at scale.