EV Charging Infrastructure to Drive Real Estate Demand

 As the Central government gives a big push to promote manufacturing including the production of EV batteries, EV charging infrastructure is set to provide a big boost to real estate, with 13 million sq ft of space by 2030.

 According to a  report,  ‘Electric Vehicles in India- New Wheels on the Roads’  focusing on the real estate strategies for various stakeholders in the electric vehicle manufacturing lifecycle,  real estate requirements for manufacturing EV batteries are estimated to reach around 2,400 acres by 2030 as a result of the government’s EV adoption targets. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, lead the charging infrastructure manufacturing.

The report further points out that the current primary clusters for Lithium-ion Battery (LiB) manufacturing exist in Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Prantij, Surat, Mandal, Delhi-NCR, Gurgaon, and Mohali. Additionally, Maharashtra has the highest count of sanctioned EV chargers, with 317 under Phase-II of the FAME India scheme, followed by Gujarat with 278 EV chargers. Currently, India manufactures Lithium-ion cells by importing raw materials, which account for 77% of the total manufacturing cost. However, this is set to change with the discovery of a 5.9 million tonne lithium reserve in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi District in February this year.  This is expected to reduce India’s reliance on imported lithium significantly.

The real estate requirements of manufacturing facilities of 4-Wheeler & 2-Wheeler (4W & 2W) Electric Vehicles (EVs) is estimated to be around  13 million sq. ft. by 2030 as a result of the

government’s EV adoption targets. It is also expected that by 2030, the real estate requirement will allow a production capacity of approximately 4 million units of 4Ws and 23 million

units of 2Ws. Built-to-suit (BTS) and leased facilities are primarily preferred by EV manufacturers  in India due to ease of capital deployment, flexibility in lease terms, speed to market and

location advantages. However, an owned facility provides more scope for customization, saves monthly rental outgoings and has better prospects for land price appreciation.Several policy

enablers by state and union governments have enabled the creation of an indigenous EV manufacturing ecosystem by incentivizing fresh investments from global/domestic players. During

the 2020-2023 period (YTD), Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu led EV investments with a 15% share each of the cumulative USD 28.8 billion investment. Meanwhile, Karnataka accounted for an 11% share, Gujarat 8%, and Uttar Pradesh and Telangana recorded a 7% share each.

For the current year, the EV sector has recorded investment announcements of about USD 6.2 bn to date. The year 2022 witnessed strong traction, with global and domestic players announcing investments of over USD 17.1 bn in the EV industry, a y-o-y increase of about 287% compared to USD 4.4 bn in 2021. In the same period, more than half of the investments were driven by EV component manufacturers.

EV manufacturers and multiple e-mobility start-ups are concentrating their presence in the primary automotive clusters in India. Uttar Pradesh took the lead in registered EV annual sales in 2022 with a 16% share, closely followed by Maharashtra with a 13% share and Karnataka with a 9% share. These three states together dominated India’s EV sales in 2022, accounting for approximately 40% of the overall sales volume.

The Indian EV market is expected to grow at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of about 49% between 2021 – 2030 and cross annual sales of 17 million units by 2030. 

According to Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO – India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE,  “As we look ahead, the intersection of real estate and the EV sector presents exciting opportunities and challenges. The rapid growth in EV manufacturing is set to revolutionize the automotive industry, and it will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the real estate market.By 2030, we anticipate a surge in demand for real estate, with a requirement of 13 mn. sq. ft. dedicated to EV manufacturing facilities alone. The cumulative investment value in EVs over the last three years demonstrates the immense financial commitment and confidence placed in this sector. This investment not only signifies the financial potential of EVs but also underscores the transformative power they hold in shaping the future of mobility.”

Looking ahead, Rami Kaushal, Managing Director, Consulting & Valuation Services, India, Middle East & Africa, CBRE, believes that  real estate will play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of EV industry . As demand for EV manufacturing facilities, charging infrastructure, and associated services expands, the real estate sector will need to adapt and provide the necessary infrastructure and spaces to accommodate this growth.

Real Estate Strategies (Investors, Manufacturers, Developers/Landlords)

Industrial Parks & Stand-alone Manufacturing Facilities:

• Focus on speed-to-market to meet the rising demand.

• Focus on multi-sourcing and near-shoring / friend shoring strategies to improve supply chain efficiencies.

• Partner with 3PL players to improve supply chain networks.

• Set up facilities near consumption hubs / transportation nodes.

• Target suitable facilities or partner with landlords to enhance assets.

• Leverage government incentives to strengthen EV manufacturing capabilities.

• Install new-age technologies to improve operational efficiencies.

Warehouses

• Set up EV warehouses closer to auto clusters / manufacturing hubs.

• Set up high-specification Grade A warehouses to store Lithium-ion batteries which would require controlled environments.

• Upgrade modern warehouses to enhance storage efficiencies.

• Enhance last-mile efficiencies by establishing distribution centres near the consumption hubs; partner with 3PL players.

• Use technologies such as warehouse managing system, thermal monitoring system for batteries, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) to improve operational efficiencies in warehouses.