EV CHARGING DESERTS IN INDIA INFRASTRUCTURE VS ADOPTION GAP

Authors:

Zainab Jahan Umaima ¹, Firdous Aliya Arif ², Mohammed Mustafa ³

¹Department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Methodist College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

²Department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Methodist College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

³Department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Methodist College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Under the Guidance of

Mr. VINOTH KUMAR - Asst . Professor

Abstract - The rapid adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in India is driving the transition toward sustainable transportation; however, the expansion of charging infrastructure has not kept pace with increasing demand, resulting in regional disparities in accessibility. This study analyzes the relationship between EV adoption and charging infrastructure distribution across 36 Indian States and Union Territories using EV registration data from the Vahan Dashboard and charging infrastructure data from government sources. Covering the period from 2018 to 2026, the study employs Tableau-based visual analytics to examine adoption trends, infrastructure distribution, and regional readiness for electric mobility. A Charging Desert Index (CDI) based on the EV-to-Charger Ratio is proposed to identify regions experiencing infrastructure deficiencies. The findings reveal significant disparities in charging infrastructure availability, with a national EV-per-Charger Ratio of 67.02, indicating that infrastructure deployment is lagging behind EV adoption in several regions. The study highlights emerging charging deserts and demonstrates the effectiveness of visual analytics in supporting data-driven infrastructure planning, policy formulation, and equitable EV ecosystem development across India.

Key Words: Electric Vehicles, Charging Infrastructure, Charging Desert Index, Tableau, Data Visualization, Sustainable Mobility