Explore the rise of charging connectors in India’s EV landscape, the challenges faced, and the collaborative solutions paving the way for a sustainable future.
Connectors are essential components of electric vehicle (EV) batteries and chargers, as they enable the transfer of electricity between the power source and the vehicle.
Charging connectors vary in size, shape, and type depending on the application, voltage, current, and standard of the EV battery and charger. Some of the common types of connectors used in EV batteries and chargers are Type-1, Type-2, CCS, CHAdeMO, DC001, and GB/T.
The market size of connectors used in EV batteries and chargers in India is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, as the demand for EVs increases due to various factors such as rising fuel prices, supportive government policies, environmental awareness, and cost-effectiveness.
According to a report by Spherical Insights, the global EV charging infrastructure market size was valued at USD 23.74 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 286.91 billion by 2032, with Asia-Pacific being the largest and fastest-growing region.
India, as one of the emerging markets for EVs in Asia-Pacific, has a huge potential for growth in the EV charging infrastructure sector.
However, the current scenario of EV charging infrastructure in India is not very favourable, as there are several challenges and barriers that hinder its development.
Some of these challenges are:
Lack of a uniform and mandatory standard for charging connectors in India.
➡️ Currently, EV makers are not required to follow a specific standard for charging connectors, which leads to compatibility issues and confusion among consumers.
For example, electric two-wheeler makers such as Ola Electric, Ather Energy, and Ultraviolette Automotive use different charging standards for their EVs.
Low availability and accessibility of public charging stations in India.
➡️ According to the Ministry of Power, the total installed capacity of EV chargers in India as on 31.05.2023 was 28,616, comprising of 26,176 AC chargers and 2,440 DC chargers.
➡️ This is an increase of about 68% from the previous year, when there were only about 17,000 EV chargers installed in India.
However, this is still far below the requirement of 2.9 million chargers by 2030 as per NITI Aayog’s National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. Therefore, there is a need to accelerate the deployment of public charging stations in India to meet the growing demand for EVs.
High cost and low quality of connectors imported from other countries.
➡️ Most of the connectors used in EV batteries and chargers in India are imported from countries like China, Taiwan, Japan, and Europe, which increases the cost and reduces the reliability of the products.
➡️ Moreover, some of these connectors may not be suitable for Indian conditions such as voltage fluctuations, extreme temperatures, and dust.
Lack of domestic manufacturing and innovation capabilities for connectors in India.
➡️ There are very few companies in India that manufacture connectors for EV batteries and chargers locally, which limits the scope for customization, quality control, and cost reduction.
➡️ Moreover, there is a lack of research and development activities for developing new and improved connectors that can meet the evolving needs of the Indian EV market.
To overcome these challenges and tap into the growing market opportunity for connectors in EV batteries and chargers in India, there is a need for concerted efforts from various stakeholders such as government agencies, industry associations, EV manufacturers, charging solution providers, connector manufacturers, research institutions, and consumers.
Some of the possible measures that can be taken are:
📌 Adopting and enforcing a national standard for charging connectors in India that is compatible with global standards and suitable for Indian conditions. This will ensure interoperability, safety, convenience, and consumer confidence among EV users.
Recently, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has proposed a new made-in-India standard for charging connectors for electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers called Bharat EV AC001A, which is expected to be finalized soon.
📌 Increasing the number and coverage of public charging stations in India by providing incentives and subsidies to private players, creating public-private partnerships, leveraging existing infrastructure such as petrol pumps and parking lots, and promoting renewable energy sources such as solar power. This will enhance the availability and accessibility of charging facilities for EV users across the country.
📌 Promoting domestic manufacturing and innovation of connectors in India by providing tax benefits, low-interest loans, grants, technical assistance, and market access to local players, encouraging collaboration among industry players and research institutions, creating testing and certification facilities, and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and creativity. This will reduce the dependence on imports, improve the quality and affordability of products, and create employment opportunities.
📌 Creating awareness and education among consumers about the benefits and features of different types of connectors used in EV batteries and chargers in India by conducting campaigns, workshops, exhibitions, demonstrations, etc. This will increase the adoption and satisfaction rate among EV users.
Some of the Indian companies that are manufacturing connectors used in EV batteries and chargers in India are:
Mass-Tech Controls Pvt Ltd: This company is based in Pune and manufactures AC and DC connectors for EV batteries and chargers, such as Type-2, GB/T, CCS, and CHAdeMO. It also provides site management systems and software solutions for EV charging infrastructure. Some of its clients include Panasonic, PMI Electro Mobility, Tata Motors, Force, Eicher, Volvo, and Mahindra.
Quench Chargers Pvt Ltd: This company is based in Bengaluru and manufactures DC connectors for EV batteries and chargers, such as CCS and CHAdeMO. It also provides cloud-based monitoring and management systems for EV charging infrastructure. Some of its projects include charging the switch mobility innovation bus at the Dubai Expo 2022 and providing fast charging solutions for electric cars and buses across India.
Integral Cable And Interconnect LLP: This company is based in Pune and specializes in customized connectors, IP68, IP67, waterproof connector, circular connector , rectangular, back plan connector, power, signal and combo connector manufacturer. It has a manufacturing facility in Pune and sales offices in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai.
Terminal Technologies Pvt Ltd: This company is based in Mumbai and produces close to 2 billion connections every year for critical applications in auto, appliances, electronics and electrical industry. It has a wide range of metal & plastic catalogue products spanning 025, 040, 060, 070, 090, 110, 187, 250, 312 & 375 series for a variety of applications in the auto and appliance sectors. It also has the capability to execute multiple tooling and various projects without compromising on speed and quality
The market size of connectors used in EV batteries and chargers in India is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, as the demand for EVs increases. However, there are several challenges and barriers that need to be addressed to realize the full potential of this market.
By adopting a national standard for charging connectors, increasing the number and coverage of public charging stations, promoting domestic manufacturing and innovation of connectors, and creating awareness and education among consumers, India can become a leading player in the global EV charging infrastructure sector.