Basement charging restrictions put another road bump to EV adoption in India
Recent proposed amendments to the National Building Code place restrictions on parking and charging of electric and hybrid vehicles at basement level parking, citing fire safety concerns.
Earlier this month, proposed amendments to the National Building Code sent shock waves across the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem for introducing stringent regulations that might stall the adoption of EVs in the country. According to these proposed amendments, restrictions would be placed on where electric and hybrid vehicles can be parked and charged.
Citing fire safety concerns, the provisions permit EV charging only at the ground level, or within the first basement level, if allowed, and that too in compartmentalised spaces not exceeding 200 square metres. These provisions are expected to throw a wrench in the urban mobility landscape that is increasingly becoming electric.
In urban cities in India, many apartment complexes and office spaces have partnered with charging operators to set up the infrastructure in basement level parking spaces to encourage and facilitate wider EV adoption—a key factor contributing to India’s 2030 goal of achieving 30% EV sales.
To achieve this ambitious target, India will need a total of 3.9 million public and semi-public charging stations, according to a report by GameChanger Law Advisors and venture capital firm Speciale Invest.
Another report by India Energy Storage Alliance and Customized Energy Solutions, says that by 2024, India had about 76,000 charging points in total, including public and captive as well as over 320,000 private chargers, mostly home chargers, installed. In a blog post by Bolt.Earth, the company notes that many large companies, especially in IT parks, logistics, and hospitality, have set up dedicated employee charging stations.
Going forward, the majority of charging for private EV owners in India is expected to happen at home or at work using AC chargers. For instance, tech parks in Bengaluru and Gurugram have started offering EV charging, paralleling practices in Silicon Valley, the blog post noted.
While historically EV sales in India have been led by two-wheelers, four-wheeler sales are gradually picking up in the country owing to mature charging infrastructure and wider EV models catering to different customer segments. However, the provisions, which discourage setting up charging stations in basements, will make customers more apprehensive about purchasing electric vehicles.
According to S Raghav Bharadwaj, Founder and CEO at EV charging startup Bolt.Earth, fire safety in basement parking is a valid concern given the interplay of confined spaces, high-voltage systems, and flammable materials.
“However, blanket restrictions on EV charging infrastructure in these zones risk slowing adoption and undermining our collective effort to reduce urban emissions and meet sustainability goals. The path forward lies in evidence-based engineering, robust safety protocols, and thoughtful design. With collaboration between policymakers, developers, and industry leaders, we can craft pragmatic standards that safeguard lives while accelerating the transition to cleaner, greener cities," he says.
Bharadwaj has a point. EV fires in India have been a concern with many incidents having been reported in the country. According to reports, as many as 83 cases of EVs catching fire have been reported in Karnataka alone since 2020. However, with rising safety protocols and stringent regulations, stakeholders believe this issue can be addressed.
Edited by Kanishk Singh