In Short : India’s EV charging demand is projected to hit 38 TWh by 2032, driven by over 28 million EVs on the road. To meet this, 47 GW of battery storage and 26 GW of pumped hydro will be needed. Energy storage and vehicle-to-grid technologies will be key to managing grid stability and integrating rising renewable energy capacity.
In Detail : India’s electric vehicle sector is expanding rapidly, with more than 28 million EVs expected to be on the roads by 2030. This growth will significantly impact electricity demand, with EV charging projected to require 38 terawatt-hours of energy by the fiscal year 2031-32. This accounts for around 3% of the country’s total projected electricity consumption.
To manage this surge in demand, the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) estimates that 47 gigawatts of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and 26 gigawatts of pumped hydro storage will be essential. These technologies will play a critical role in balancing energy loads and maintaining a stable grid.
India is also pushing forward with plans to expand its renewable energy capacity. The National Electricity Plan outlines the addition of 500 GW of renewable energy, including solar, wind, and small hydro, by 2032. As renewable sources are intermittent, integrating effective storage systems is key to ensuring a reliable energy supply.
Battery storage will help absorb excess energy during peak renewable generation and release it during demand spikes. It will be vital for smoothing fluctuations in supply and demand, especially as more electric vehicles plug into the grid.
Another emerging solution is vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration. This allows EVs to send electricity back to the grid during periods of high demand. With millions of EVs acting as mobile energy storage units, V2G could support grid resilience and reduce the need for additional infrastructure.
As India accelerates its shift to clean mobility, developing robust energy storage infrastructure is essential. Strategic investments in BESS, pumped hydro, and V2G systems will be instrumental in meeting future EV charging demands while supporting the broader transition to a sustainable, renewable-powered energy system.
