In a significant move towards bolstering the electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in India, Google has announced a partnership with ElectricPe, an Indian startup focused on EV charging solutions. This collaboration aims to provide Google Maps users across India with real-time information on the availability and status of EV charging points, thereby facilitating better journey planning and alleviating range anxiety among EV users. The feature will be accessible on both Google Maps and Google Search and is set to expand to other regions in the future.

ElectricPe, an EV charging aggregation platform co-founded in May 2021 by Avinash Sharma and Raghav Rohila, has raised $8.29 million to date from investors including Blume Ventures. The platform connects users to a vast network of charging points across India through its app, which allows users to scan QR codes to charge their vehicles and complete payments seamlessly. The company has previously partnered with Hero Electric to establish charging points in various locations such as apartments, commercial complexes, and other establishments across India.

Bengaluru-based ElectricPe claims to operate over 25,000 public chargers in the city, making it the largest network in Bengaluru. The startup’s growth aligns with market research projections that India will have over 5 million public charging stations by 2030.

Additionally, Google recently announced a substantial reduction in the pricing of its Google Maps platform for developers in India, slashing prices by up to 70% starting August 1. This decision follows Bhavish Aggarwal’s appeal to Indian startups to consider using local alternatives such as Ola Maps.