Madhya Pradesh's Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Faces Critical Shortage
Electric vehicle owners in Madhya Pradesh planning long-distance travel should exercise extreme caution. The state is grappling with a severe charging infrastructure deficit, with only one charging station available for every 200 registered electric vehicles. This alarming ratio highlights significant challenges in the state's transition to electric mobility.
National Ranking Reveals Infrastructure Gap
According to data shared by the Centre on Wednesday, Madhya Pradesh currently hosts over 2 lakh electric vehicles but has merely 1,146 operational charging stations across its territory. This places the state at ninth position nationally in terms of charging infrastructure relative to registered EVs.
States outperforming Madhya Pradesh in this critical metric include Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Gujarat. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari presented these findings through a written response in the Rajya Sabha, addressing queries about regulatory frameworks for charging station installation.
Government Initiatives and Funding for EV Infrastructure
The central government has clarified that setting up EV charging stations is an unlicensed activity, with private players encouraged to install charging points following established guidelines. Public-private partnership models are being actively promoted to accelerate infrastructure development.
Substantial financial resources have been allocated through two major schemes:
- FAME India Scheme: Rs 912.50 crore released for establishing public charging infrastructure nationwide
- PM E-DRIVE Scheme: Rs 2,000 crore allocated for deployment of charging stations along national and state highways
Additionally, three Oil Marketing Companies have received Rs 873.50 crore in capital subsidies to establish Electric Vehicle Public Charging Stations through private sector collaboration.
Madhya Pradesh's EV Promotion Efforts
On December 8, 2025, the Madhya Pradesh government announced aggressive measures to promote electric vehicle adoption across the state, citing environmental conservation as a primary motivation. A significant policy intervention includes complete exemption from Motor Vehicle tax for all categories of electric vehicles registered within the state.
Concerning EV Accident Statistics
Separate data revealed in the Rajya Sabha last April presents another dimension of Madhya Pradesh's EV landscape. The state ranked eighth nationally in electric vehicle accidents during 2024, with 663 incidents resulting in 89 fatalities and 868 injuries.
Seven states recorded higher EV accident death tolls than Madhya Pradesh:
- Uttarakhand (369 deaths)
- Bihar (230 deaths)
- Maharashtra (154 deaths)
- Rajasthan (144 deaths)
- West Bengal (133 deaths)
- Assam (117 deaths)
- Karnataka (99 deaths)
Positive Trend in Accident Reduction
Despite concerning statistics, Madhya Pradesh has demonstrated improvement in EV safety metrics over recent years. The state witnessed a consistent decline in both accidents and fatalities across a three-year period:
- 2022: 1,067 accidents with 250 fatalities
- 2023: 670 accidents with 140 fatalities
- 2024: 663 accidents with 89 fatalities
This downward trajectory suggests that safety measures and increased driver familiarity with electric vehicles may be contributing to reduced incident rates, even as EV adoption continues to expand across the state.
