India has a unique chance to skip the long-winded path most developed countries took with automobiles. Just as it jumped from landlines to mobile phones and from cash to UPI, India can leap from internal combustion engines (ICE) to smart, electric mobility. This blog dives into how India can lead the EV (Electric Vehicle) and SDV (Software-Defined Vehicle) revolution by focusing on four key areas: infrastructure, technology, policy, and market dynamics.
1. Building the EV Backbone: Infrastructure Readiness in India
The biggest myth about EVs in India? That we aren’t ready. Reality check: as of 2025, over 25,000 public EV charging stations are active nationwide. Highways like Delhi-Jaipur now boast e-highway corridors with charging and battery-swapping stations every 40-60 km.
Government-led initiatives like PM E-Drive and FAME II are funding everything from EV charging infrastructure to grid upgrades. And it’s not just public chargers. Battery swapping, especially for electric two-wheelers and electric three-wheelers, is gaining ground. Ola Electric, Sun Mobility, and Bounce are already running swap networks across cities. With India’s massive two-wheeler population, battery swapping is fast, cheap, and efficient.
Charging infrastructure is also aligning with renewable energy. Discoms are offering time-of-day pricing, nudging users to charge during solar peak hours. In short, India’s EV infrastructure, while not perfect, is scaling fast and smart.
2. The Brain of the EV: Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) in India
Modern electric vehicles are no longer just hardware; they’re rolling computers. Software-defined vehicles (SDVs) replace dozens of scattered ECUs with centralized, high-performance computing units and zonal controllers.
Indian companies are adapting fast. Tata’s acti.ev platform enables OTA updates and smart vehicle features. Ola Electric’s MoveOS lets its scooters improve after purchase. Ultraviolette’s F77 bike uses 3,000+ real-time data points to learn rider behavior and adjust performance.
Behind the scenes, India’s deep software talent pool is powering this shift. Global OEMs like Mercedes, BMW, and Bosch have R&D centers in Bangalore and Pune focused on SDV development. Indian engineers are leading core SDV tech—not just supporting.
The SDV revolution allows vehicles to become software platforms. That means future updates, app integrations, and even new revenue streams (like pay-per-feature subscriptions) are baked in from day one.
3. Policy That Paves the Way for EVs and SDVs
No leapfrog happens without strong EV policy support. And India has started flexing regulatory muscle.
FAME II and the upcoming PM E-Drive scheme are offering subsidies on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. The PLI (Production-Linked Incentive) scheme is supporting domestic battery manufacturing and EV production. States are rolling out their own EV policies, offering road tax exemptions, and even mandating electric vehicle fleets for public transport.
Safety has also stepped up. New AIS-156 and AIS-038 standards ensure EV battery safety. On the SDV front, India is drafting AIS-189 and AIS-190—our versions of Europe’s R155 and R156—to secure vehicle software and ensure OTA compliance.
India may be taking a more “carrot” than “stick” approach compared to Europe or China, but it’s a strategic one: encourage EV adoption, support local innovation, then gradually tighten regulations.
4. Market Dynamics: Electric Vehicle Startups and Consumer Trends in India
India’s EV market isn’t just growing—it’s exploding, especially in electric two-wheelers. Over 750,000 e-scooters were sold in FY23 alone. Ola Electric, Ather Energy, TVS, and Hero MotoCorp are driving innovation and competition.
EV startups in India are scaling like never before. Ather and Ola are prepping for IPOs. BluSmart is pioneering all-electric ride-hailing fleets. EV funding hit $2.1 billion in FY25, with investors betting big across the value chain—from EV charging networks to advanced battery tech startups.
Consumers are embracing EVs. From students to delivery riders to urban professionals, people are choosing electric vehicles for cost savings, better performance, and a cleaner lifestyle. And with growing comfort around app-based updates, connected dashboards, and smart diagnostics, Indian users are ready for software-defined vehicles.
The Leapfrog Moment for India’s Electric and Software-Defined Vehicle Ecosystem
So what makes this a true leapfrog? - India doesn’t need to unlearn combustion-era mistakes. - We’re building EV infrastructure from scratch with modern tech. - Our strength in software development supports SDV innovation. - Government EV policies are proactive and aligned with global trends. - Indian consumers are young, tech-savvy, and open to smart mobility.
India is poised not just to catch up with global EV and SDV leaders but to define its own model—affordable, scalable, software-powered, and clean.
The next 5 years are pivotal. And from what we’re seeing on the ground—from the highways of Gujarat to the tech labs in Bangalore—India isn’t just catching up.
It’s preparing to lead the electric and software-defined mobility revolution.
Sources:
1. RMI report on EV infrastructure needs and current deployment[1][19]
2. Power Line Magazine – “Driving Change: New initiatives in EV charging and battery swapping”[51][2]
3. Ministry of Power Guidelines 2024 and Battery Swapping Guidelines 2025 (summarized in Power Linearticle)[5][12]
4. NHEV (National Highways for EV) e-highway initiative overview[4]
5. Press Information Bureau – PM E-Drive scheme announcement (May 2025)[9][10]
6. Mobility Outlook – “Software-Defined Vehicles: Zonal Architecture” (Sangeeth Kumar, Quest Global)[27][26]
7. ET Auto – “Automakers shift to zonal architecture for efficiencies” (Mar 2025)[25][30]
8. ET Auto – “Tata Motors gears up for a software-defined EV future” (Jul 2025)[34][35]
9. Autocar Professional – “India’s Software-Defined Drive” (Jul 2025)[23][72]
10. Mobility Outlook – “Ultraviolette F77 Gen3 Firmware Update” (Jul 2025)[38][40]
11. PwC India – “Cybersecurity for connected vehicles” (mention of AIS-189 & AIS-190 drafts)[42]
12. India’s EV safety norms – MoRTH notification on AIS-156 (2022)[56]
13. S&P Global Mobility – “India’s EV Market: Trends and Future Prospects” (Mar 2025)[60][73]
14. Outlook Business – “EV start-up funding crosses $2bn in FY25”[63][70]
15. Wright Research – EV market share data (FY2024 two-wheeler market)[65]
16. AlixPartners Global Automotive Outlook – ADAS revenue projections (cited in AutoRemarketing)[47][46]
A simple but effective analysis of 'deemed to be a difficult topic.' Great effort. Keep going. My congratulations.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sir 🙏
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