Tamil Nadu has unveiled plans to install 500 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations as part of its ongoing push toward sustainable transportation. The project, spearheaded by the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL), will expand the state’s public charging network to nearly 2,000 locations, according to a report by The New Indian Express.
The initiative is being supported through a technical collaboration with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP). Teams from TNGECL and ITDP recently visited New Delhi to study the capital’s EV ecosystem and gather insights for local implementation. Based on their findings, the state aims to enhance not only charging infrastructure but also introduce a comprehensive battery swapping network.
In Chennai alone, TNGECL plans to set up 19 charging stations, with 10 of them also offering battery swapping services. These locations have already been shortlisted, and feasibility assessments are in progress with support from ITDP. To meet national guidelines recommending one public charging point every 25 kilometers along highways, the agency will also install 20 stations on key routes such as Chennai-Coimbatore and Chennai-Kanniyakumari.
Currently, Tamil Nadu has around 1,300 public EV chargers in operation. TNGECL is also developing a digital map to help drivers easily locate charging points. In addition, a new online platform is in the works to connect private landowners with potential charge point operators, helping accelerate infrastructure growth on privately owned sites.
Tamil Nadu is a leader in India’s electric mobility transition. The state accounted for 7% of national EV sales in FY2025, placing it fourth overall, according to The New Indian Express. It is also positioning itself as an EV manufacturing hub, with companies such as Ola Electric, TVS Motor Company, and Ather Energy already operating local plants. Vietnamese automaker VinFast is expected to inaugurate its first Indian factory in Thoothukudi later this week.
