India’s upcoming electric vehicle (EV) charging app is expected to prioritise data privacy by avoiding the collection of personal user information, even as it analyses behavioural trends and charging patterns to improve services. According to two officials, the app—developed by the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)—will use aggregated and anonymised data rather than store individual user or transaction records.
This approach aligns with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, which mandates user consent for data usage, though its rules are yet to be formalised. During a recent stakeholder meeting, officials, automakers, and service providers agreed not to store personal data.
The app aims to offer a unified platform for EV users to locate public chargers, book slots, and make payments. As EV adoption rises—projected to grow at a 49% CAGR by 2030—robust charging infrastructure is vital. India currently has just over 29,000 public chargers, compared to over 88,500 fuel stations. Experts stress the importance of cybersecurity to protect collected data and enhance infrastructure efficiency across India’s vast road network.
