In an exclusive interview with Climate Samurai, Navneet Daga explains how extreme Indian summers are exposing weaknesses in EV charging infrastructure, why silicon carbide (SiC) technology could be a game changer, and what policy reforms are urgently needed to build a climate-resilient electric mobility ecosystem.
- Year on Year India is witnessing extreme summer temperatures crossing 45–50°C in several regions. From your on-ground observations, how is this heatwave impacting / may impact the performance and reliability of existing EV charging infrastructure?
India’s increasing summer temperatures are creating significant challenges for EV charging infrastructure. In many parts of the country, chargers operate continuously in temperatures exceeding 45°C, putting immense pressure on power electronics, cooling systems, and internal components. Under such conditions, conventional chargers often undergo thermal derating, automatically reducing charging speed to prevent system damage. This not only affects charger uptime and efficiency but also impacts the overall consumer charging experience, especially during peak summer months
- We believe many EV chargers deployed in the country are originally designed for milder climates. What are the key technical limitations in conventional chargers that make them vulnerable under Indian heat conditions?
Many EV chargers currently deployed in India were originally designed for relatively moderate weather conditions and are not fully optimized for extreme Indian summers. Conventional silicon-based chargers generate higher switching losses, which leads to excess heat generation during continuous operation. Inadequate thermal management systems, limited cooling efficiency, and poor protection against dust, humidity, and voltage fluctuations further reduce their reliability in Indian conditions. As temperatures rise beyond 45°C, these systems often experience performance drops, thermal derating, and increased component failure rates
- If these thermal performance issues persist, do you see a risk of reduced consumer confidence in electric vehicles due to unreliable charging infrastructure? How serious could this challenge become at scale?
Yes, unreliable charging infrastructure can become a major challenge for EV adoption in India. Consumers expect charging stations to function with the same consistency as traditional fuel stations, and repeated issues such as overheating, slow charging, or non-functional chargers can quickly reduce trust in the ecosystem. As EV adoption scales, reliability will become more important than just charger count. Industry reports already indicate that unreliable charging experiences are contributing to a new form of range anxiety centred around charger availability and uptime rather than battery range itself
- It has not been even a decade since the EV charging stations started mushrooming in India, but we recently found many charging stations are non functional or in very poor condition, can you share your thoughts on it
The rapid expansion of EV charging infrastructure in India has largely focused on deployment speed, but long-term consistency and maintenance have not always received equal attention. Many charging stations operate in harsh conditions involving extreme heat, dust, humidity, and unstable grid supply, which accelerates wear and component failure. In several cases, insufficient preventive maintenance and the use of systems not designed for Indian conditions have impacted charger uptime. Going forward, the industry must shift focus from simply increasing charger numbers to building durable, climate-resilient, and service-supported infrastructure
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- Your company is working on silicon carbide (SiC)-based systems. Can you explain how SiC technology improves heat resilience, efficiency, and long-term reliability compared to traditional solutions? Who are your customers?
Silicon Carbide (SiC)-based systems are a significant advancement over conventional silicon-based power electronics, especially for Indian operating conditions. SiC devices offer much lower switching losses, higher efficiency, and the ability to perform reliably even under extreme temperatures above 45°C. This reduces heat generation, improves charger uptime, and increases long-term system durability while enabling faster and more stable charging performance. At Zenergize, we work with government bodies, charge point operators, infrastructure developers, and energy ecosystem partners focused on building indigenous, climate-resilient EV charging and solar power solutions for India
- Do you believe India’s EV infrastructure policies and standards adequately account for climate realities like extreme heat? What changes—both technological and regulatory—are urgently needed to build a truly climate-resilient charging network?
India’s EV policies have created strong momentum for infrastructure growth, but climate resilience still needs greater attention. Current standards must evolve to address real Indian operating conditions. Going forward, the industry needs stricter thermal performance benchmarks, mandatory reliability testing for high-temperature environments, and greater adoption of advanced technologies like SiC-based power electronics. Alongside policy support, long-term maintenance standards and uptime accountability will be critical to building a dependable and climate-resilient charging network