Queues, faulty chargers, broken meters: Delhi's EV push hits roadblocks

Even as the Delhi government pushes its new Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy to accelerate the adoption of electric mobility, several EV charging stations across the capital are either non-functional or poorly maintained, raising concerns over the city's readiness to support a growing number of electric vehicles.

The new policy places significant emphasis on expanding and strengthening charging infrastructure to encourage a shift away from conventional fuel-powered vehicles. However, inspections at multiple locations in central Delhi revealed widespread operational issues.

At an EV charging station in the Central Secretariat area, barely 50 metres from Parliament, six charging stations were found installed, but only one charging point was operational, a ground reality check by India Today TV found. The remaining units were either switched off, displayed "unavailable" messages, or appeared defunct.

Multiple EV users were seen waiting to charge their vehicles. One user said that although charging a vehicle takes around 1.5 hours, waiting times often extend the process to nearly three hours because only one charger is functional.

"There are seven charging points here, but only one is working. After a couple of hours, several vehicles queue up waiting for their turn," he said.

Users also alleged a lack of maintenance. "Many charging stations exist, but most of them do not work," another EV owner said, adding that non-functional chargers often remain unattended for long periods. "A lot of charges are in the city, but none of them are working," he added.

Several charging stations in the Central Secretariat area were found non-operational, while spaces designated for EV charging were being used for vehicle parking. Some charging units showed no signs of recent maintenance, with display screens switched off and equipment appearing out of service.

A similar situation was observed at Talkatora Stadium. Of the four EV charging stations inspected there, three were found non-functional. A battery-swapping unit appeared out of use, while no operating staff were present at the site. One charging station was active, but only one of its charging ports was working.

The inspection also identified open electrical circuit boxes and disconnected charging cables at some locations. Several charging units had non-functional displays, while others lacked complete installation or appeared abandoned.

At Rajghat Bus Depot, around half a kilometre from the Delhi Secretariat, all chargers installed at the site were found non-functional. Local users claimed the chargers were installed around four years ago and had remained out of service for nearly a year. They alleged that the company responsible for installation was not carrying out regular maintenance.

EV owners at the Rajghat facility said they are often forced to travel between multiple charging stations in search of a working charger because many facilities remain non-operational.

At another charging station near Ring Road in Kashmere Gate, two of the three installed chargers were found not working. Local residents said these stations had also been installed several years ago.

While the government seeks to encourage a transition to clean mobility, commuters and EV owners say the lack of reliable charging infrastructure continues to pose a major challenge. Users urged authorities to focus not only on expanding the charging network but also on ensuring regular maintenance and uninterrupted operation of existing facilities.