No licence needed — Public charging is an explicitly de-licensed activity in India. Anyone can set one up. Fast DISCOM connection — Get a dedicated EV tariff metered connection within 3–15 days. Typical setup cost — ₹2–12 lakh (small AC station) to ₹15–25 lakh (mid DC station). Subsidies — PM E-DRIVE scheme (up to 80–100% upstream support) + ~25% state capital subsidies. Profitable at right locations — High margins per kWh, but site selection and utilization planning are key.
Planning to install an EV charging station? Here's the complete 2026 guide — cost, licence rules, DISCOM connection, subsidies, and step-by-step process. EV Shield (www.evshield.in) helps you set it up end-to-end, from site feasibility and hardware to going live with full CPO software support.
Setting up an EV charging station in India takes six core steps. No electricity licence is required — public charging is a de-licensed activity.
Pick a high-footfall site — Malls, highways, offices, or fuel stations where vehicles naturally stop.
Secure the land or parking space — Own, lease, or partner on an EV Shield FOCO revenue-share model.
Choose your chargers — Type 2 AC (7.4–22 kW) for slow charging, CCS2 DC (50–250 kW) for fast charging.
Apply to your DISCOM — Request a separate metered connection on the dedicated concessional EV tariff.
Build infrastructure & get approvals — Transformer, cabling, civil work, plus CEIG and Fire NOC clearances.
Integrate payments & go live — Connect to EV Shield's CPMS network software, enable UPI/App/RFID, and commission.
Typical installation cost is ₹2–12 lakh for a small AC station and ₹15–25 lakh for a mid-size DC station, before subsidies.
Tell us your location and plans — the EV Shield team will get in touch to help you take the next step, from site audit and hardware to subsidies and ongoing AMC.
Email Enquiries: info@evshield.in
Official Website: www.evshield.in
Hardware and infrastructure costs vary by power rating and site requirements. Indicative 2026 ranges:
Item | Indicative Cost |
Type 2 AC Charger (7.4–22 kW) | ₹35,000 – ₹1.5 lakh |
DC Fast Charger (30–60 kW) | ₹8 – 15 lakh |
DC Fast Charger (120–240 kW) | ₹25 lakh and up |
Dedicated Transformer | ₹2 – 5 lakh |
Civil Works (shed, flooring, branding) | ₹1 – 3 lakh |
Network / CPMS Software | ₹20,000 – ₹1 lakh |
Small AC Station (Society / Office) | ₹2 – 12 lakh total |
Mid Commercial Station (DC + AC + Infra) | ₹15 – 25 lakh total |
High-Power Hub (150 kW+) | ₹25 lakh – ₹1 crore+ |
Operating costs include electricity (~₹5–6.50/kWh on the dedicated EV tariff), rent or revenue-share, EV Shield charger AMC maintenance, CPMS SaaS network fees, and payment gateway charges.
PM E-DRIVE Scheme: Earmarks ₹2,000 crore for public charging, targeting roughly 72,000 chargers across national highways and urban centers.
State Capital Subsidies: Most state EV policies (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi) offer capital subsidies covering ~25% of equipment costs.
Land Concessions: Public/government land is provided at promotional rates (~₹1/kWh) for CPO station setups.
No Electricity Licence Needed: Under the Ministry of Power guidelines, public charging is a de-licensed activity. Any individual, company, housing society, mall, hotel, or office can set up a station.
Dedicated EV Tariffs: Stations get a separate metered single-part connection capped at the Average Cost of Supply (cheaper solar-hour tariffs).
Guaranteed Timelines: DISCOMs must energize connections within 3 days in metros, 7 days in municipal areas, and 15 days in rural regions.
Standard | Charger Type | Power Rating | Target Vehicle Segment |
Type 2 AC | AC Slow / Destination | 3.3 / 7.4 / 11 / 22 kW | Destination Charging / Malls & Workplaces |
CCS2 (IS 17017-2-3) | DC Fast Charger | 50 – 250 kW | Electric Cars, SUVs & Buses (Dominant Standard) |
LEV DC / AC-DC Combo | DC / Combo | Up to 12 kW | Electric 2-Wheelers & 3-Wheelers |
Assess Site & Demand: Evaluate EV traffic, dwell times, grid proximity, and visibility.
Secure Space: Own, lease, or choose an EV Shield revenue-share partnership model.
Select Chargers & CPMS: Choose certified AC/DC chargers and connect to EV Shield's cloud CPMS.
Apply to DISCOM: Submit online for a separate metered connection on the concessional EV tariff.
Build Infrastructure: Install transformer, heavy-gauge cabling, panels, earthing, and civil works.
Obtain CEIG Clearance: Secure safety sign-off from the Chief Electrical Inspector to Government.
Secure Fire NOC: Obtain local Fire Department compliance for public commercial sites.
Integrate CPMS & Payments: Configure OCPP network software, UPI/App/RFID payments, and dynamic tariff display.
Register with Nodal Agency: Onboard data to the Central Nodal Agency (BEE) and national EV portal.
Commission & Go Live: Energize hardware, perform live test charging, and start operations with 24/7 AMC monitoring.
Operators earn a per-kWh service fee by purchasing power at concessional EV tariffs (~₹5–6.50/kWh) and retailing charging at ~₹12–18/kWh—yielding a gross margin of ₹5–12 per kWh before fixed costs.
Break-even generally requires 10–12% station utilization. High-traffic locations (highway corridors, fleet depots, busy commercial centers) achieve payback within 18 to 36 months with healthy operational margins.
No. Public charging is a de-licensed activity under Ministry of Power guidelines. Any individual, company, or property owner can legally set up a station.
A small destination AC charging station ranges between ₹2–12 lakh, while a mid-sized commercial DC fast-charging hub costs ₹15–25 lakh including infrastructure and approvals.
By regulation, DISCOMs must provide connections within 3 days in metro cities, 7 days in municipal towns, and 15 days in rural areas.
Under the FOCO (Franchise Owned, Company Operated) model, the property host owns the charging station asset while EV Shield manages site installation, CPMS software, dynamic pricing, billing settlements, and 24/7 technical maintenance.
Partner with EV Shield (www.evshield.in) for turnkey installation, FOCO franchise models, CPMS cloud software, and nationwide charger AMC support.
Email: info@evshield.in
Website: www.evshield.in
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