Growing interest from entrepreneurs and rapid EV sales growth mean competition is heating up; however, the market is still wide open for well-planned ventures. Read on to discover how you can secure your share of this high-potential sector.
Overview of the EV Charging Station Franchise Opportunity in India
India’s appetite for electric mobility is no longer a prediction; it is visible in daily registration data. Vahan Dashboard figures show electric two-wheeler sales rising from 73,651 in December 2024 to 97,734 in January 2025, while electric four-wheelers increased from 9,116 to 11,247 in the same period. Each new vehicle needs dependable power on the road, pushing the spotlight onto charging networks.
Key factors driving the opportunity
- Rising fuel prices: Every petrol or diesel hike nudges more commuters towards EVs.
- Government incentives: Schemes like FAME II lower purchase costs for consumers and stimulate charging infrastructure roll-outs.
- 2030 target of 30 % EV penetration: Central and state policies are aligned to hit this milestone, ensuring sustained demand for chargers.
- Low operating costs: After equipment installation, electricity becomes the main variable cost, which you can manage by sourcing from authorised service providers.
Entrepreneurs who act early can lock in strategic locations, sign fleet partnerships, and build customer loyalty long before the market matures.
Benefits of Investing in an EV Charging Station Franchise
Lucrative, growing demand
BloombergNEF projects sharp growth in national EV sales. In Bengaluru alone, the market is forecast to jump from 80,000 EVs in 2021 to 23 lakh by 2030, highlighting the urgent need for more public chargers.
Government support
Central and state authorities sweeten the deal through tax rebates, lower power tariffs, and capital subsidies. These incentives raise margins and accelerate pay-back periods.
Diverse revenue streams
- Direct charging fees billed per kWh or per minute
- Fleet contracts with ride-hailing or logistics operators
- Advertising space on digital screens at the station
- Ancillary retail or food services for drivers waiting to charge
Turnkey execution
Brands such as thunderplus remove technical headaches. Their franchise package covers site evaluation, equipment procurement, branding, installation, and ongoing maintenance. You step into an operational station rather than a construction project.
Initial Investment and Setup Requirements
- Civil and electrical works (earthing, cabling, transformer upgrade if needed)
- Fast and slow chargers for two-wheelers, cars, and fleets
- Software licences for billing and remote monitoring
- Branding and signage aligned with franchisor standards
- One-time deposits with local utilities
Licensing
You do not need a separate electricity distribution licence, but you must comply with Ministry of Power technical standards. Your franchisor will usually guide you through this checklist.
Step-by-step process
- Enquiry: Fill in the franchisor’s online form or call their business development team.
- Site evaluation: Share land details or lease documents; engineers assess power access and traffic flow.
- Agreement & payment: Sign the franchise contract and transfer the initial fee.
- Installation & testing: Chargers, software, and branding go live.
- Revenue switch-on: Collect payments from day one, typically through a dedicated mobile app.
Avoid common pitfalls by budgeting realistically, securing clear land titles, and confirming grid capacity before signing any lease.
Location and Infrastructure Considerations
Prime site attributes
- Easy access from main roads without complex turns
- Proximity to shopping malls, business parks, or highway restaurants that keep drivers occupied while charging
- Sufficient power availability—ideally a dedicated transformer or sanctioned load upgrade
- Space for future expansion, such as adding more chargers or solar canopies
Cities with strong tech hubs and eco-conscious populations—Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad—offer particularly attractive demand curves. For instance, Bengaluru’s expected 23 lakh EVs by 2030 signal a massive market for well-positioned stations.
Infrastructure essentials
- Reliable power supply: Voltage fluctuations can damage chargers and annoy customers.
- Compatible equipment: Invest in chargers that meet Bharat AC 001 and DC 001 standards plus emerging CCS or CHAdeMO connectors.
- Data connectivity: Real-time software links enable remote diagnostics, price updates, and user notifications.
Franchise Model and Operational Support
A franchise model reduces operational uncertainty. thunderplus, for example, provides a 24 × 7 Network Operations Centre that monitors chargers across the country, ensuring maximum uptime. Their four-step onboarding—enquiry, site selection, setup, revenue—compresses go-to-market timelines.
Operational support includes:
- Preventive maintenance schedules to avoid costly downtime
- Firmware upgrades to stay compliant with evolving standards
- Dynamic pricing tools to adapt tariffs during peak or off-peak hours
- Marketing material to attract app users
Entrepreneurs who lean on this support avoid reinventing the wheel and can scale to multiple sites faster. Remember, ignoring the franchisor’s location advice or skimping on maintenance often leads to lower utilisation and negative reviews.
Government and Regulatory Support
FAME II incentives
The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles scheme extends financial benefits to both vehicle buyers and charging-infrastructure providers, widening the customer base you can serve.
30 % EV adoption target by 2030
This ambitious goal keeps ministries, state transport departments, and distribution companies aligned, smoothing approvals and ensuring that regulations favour charging ecosystems.
State-level tariff orders
Many states issue special EV tariffs below commercial rates, protecting your gross margins. They also set ceilings on service fees, promoting fair competition without squeezing franchise profitability.
Flexibility in power sourcing
Rules allow you to procure electricity from authorised service providers or, where feasible, install captive solar capacity, thereby shaving operating costs.
Stay updated by subscribing to Ministry of Power notifications and attending state energy department webinars. Missing a policy change could mean losing out on new subsidies or failing to meet fresh compliance norms.
Revenue Generation and Profitability
With capital expenditure behind you, profitability depends on throughput and ancillary earnings. Here are the main levers:
High utilisation
The more vehicles that plug in, the quicker you recover your investment. Strategic locations, fleet tie-ups, and app-based loyalty programmes all push utilisation upwards.
Tariff management
Use dynamic pricing to attract users during lean hours and capture premium rates during peak demand, widening your spread over electricity costs.
Fleet partnerships
Aggregators and logistics firms often prepay for dedicated bays, creating a predictable cash flow. In return, they secure guaranteed charging slots for their drivers.
Ancillary services
Coffee kiosks, convenience stores, or parcel lockers make waiting time productive for drivers and add extra revenue per visit.
Low operating costs
Electricity is the only significant variable expense. Smart energy management systems—such as ThunderPlus analytics dashboards—optimise load scheduling and minimise wastage, further lifting margins.
Well-run sites can move to profitability more quickly than many brick-and-mortar businesses of similar size, thanks to modest staffing needs and predictable overheads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q2. What is EV charging station franchise cost in India?
The typical outlay ranges from ₹1 crore to ₹2 crore. This figure includes civil works, fast and slow chargers, software integration, branding, and initial franchise fees.
Q3. How long does it take to launch a station once I sign the franchise agreement?
Most franchisors follow a four-step process—enquiry, site evaluation, setup, and commissioning—which can be completed in as little as three to six months, provided land and power permissions are ready.
Q4. Why choose a franchise model over building an independent charging station?
A franchise model delivers proven technology, brand recognition, and ongoing maintenance. These factors reduce risk, cut launch timelines, and often result in higher utilisation because customers trust established networks.
Q5. What if a charger goes offline unexpectedly—how is downtime handled?
Franchisors like thunderplus operate 24 × 7 Network Operations Centres that detect faults instantly. Remote resets or quick on-site interventions keep uptime high, protecting your revenue.
Q6. Is revenue limited to charging fees, or can I earn from other services?
You can boost profitability by adding advertising screens, retail kiosks, or food outlets. Fleet partnerships also create steady income streams beyond individual driver fees.
Ready to join the future of mobility and maximize your revenue potential? Explore how ThunderPlus can help you build a reliable EV charging station franchise with smart solutions and diverse income streams—visit us at thunderplus.io to learn more!