Eye on EV Charging: In conclusion, a global snapshot and some questions that need answers

Well distributed and easy-to-access charging networks will be a vital factor for faster adoption of e-mobility. The networks need to provide fast, reliable and sustainable charging to enable seamless travel while assuaging range anxiety concerns. This series by Gurusharan Dillon* looks at the global market situation to glean insights into how charging ecosystems are developing across the world.

The race for establishing EV charging infrastructure has well begun, with very different inferences from across the globe. Attitudes toward sustainability are maturing and it is expected that OEMs will lead the way to sustainable change.

In North America, players are clearly favoring a collaborative effort amongst OEMs, while Europe is witnessing an interesting blend of collaboration, OEM level initiatives and partnerships with oil & gas companies actively diversifying into charging infrastructure.

In India, a clear pattern is still to emerge, with proprietary charging network owners like Ather opening access to its competitors, charging and battery swapping operators forming multiple OEM partnerships, and also OEM alliance specifically in the e2W segment. 

China has EV charging companies taking the lead in forming strategic partnerships with OEMs as well as OEM level partnership with oil & gas companies, and finally, Japan where the picture shows an interesting combination of OEM companies and leasing companies expanding into a new business area.

Two macro questions that the e-mobility industry will have to wait to find answers to, are the possibility of OEM collaboration in the e4W and bus & truck segment in India (and who will take the lead), and how Tesla's decision to open its network to rivals will add a completely new business dimension of data monetization to the company's existing business, based on competitor data that Tesla will collect through its charging network. 

*The writer is Director of E-Mobility Consulting at Customized Energy Solutions India.