More than 8,000 petrol pumps, or one in every ten pumps across the country, now offer facilities to charge an EV or refuel a compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle in a boost to customers who own or plan to buy the less polluting vehicles.

India has about 84,600 fuel retail outlets, of which 8,900 offer alternative fuels such as CNG, auto LPG or EV charging facilities, according to the oil ministry data. EV charging facility is available at 4,100 pumps, CNG at 4,000 pumps and auto LPG at 700. The private sector, which controls a tenth of the country’s fuel stations, offers alternative fuelling options at less than 200 pumps.

“India is witnessing a larger trend of liquid fuel stations turning into energy stations where a customer has the choice of ordering petrol, diesel, natural gas, or electrons as per his needs. It brings convenience to customers. It also helps oil companies guard their future profits,” said an industry executive.