Private power generator Tata Power announced it is looking at ramping up investments to expand its network of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations to 700 by the end of the current financial year from around 170 currently.

The company said in a statement it expects to make its mark in the fast-emerging EV segment by creating a national network of charging infrastructure. The growth in the demand for EVs in India is expected to outstrip internal combustion vehicles. In 2019-20, over 1.5 lakh electric vehicles were sold in India against 1.35 lakh in 2018-19

In the current financial year, Tata Power will be working closely with the EV industry to enable India’s large scale migration to clean transportation across all segments including two and four-wheelers, it added. “Over the last two years, we have been investing in a national network of charging infrastructure and expect to expand this further during the current financial year too,” Chief Executive and Managing Director Praveer Sinha said.

The company has so far installed 170 fast and smart-charging points across 20 cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad and expects to expand the coverage to more cities by the end of the current financial year.

Tata Power also plans to create infrastructure for home charging and public charging stations including metro stations, shopping malls, theatres, and highways. It has signed pacts for setting up commercial EV charging stations at fuel outlets owned by Hindustan Petroleum, Indian Oil, and Indraprastha Gas.