Online Co-Charging Platforms in India’s EV Ecosystem : Adoption, Feasibility, Policy and Legal Frameworks, and On-Ground Implementation Issues
Authors
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Mannat Singh
Assistant Professor (Corresponding Author), Campus Law Centre, Law Faculty, New Delhi, Delhi - 110 007
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2901-3337
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Rekha Dahiya
Associate Professor, School of Management, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi, Delhi - 110 006
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9141-1731
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2026/v19i8/175100Keywords:
adoption intention, charging infrastructure, electric vehicles (EVs), online EV co-charging, sharing economy.JEL Classification Codes :Q42, L86, O33
Publishing Chronology: Paper Submission Date : December 26, 2025 ; Paper sent back for Revision : June 10, 2026 ; Paper Acceptance Date : June 25, 2026 ; Paper Published Online : August 17, 2026.
Abstract
Purpose : This study investigated whether an online electric vehicle (EV) co-charging platform could provide a viable sharing-based complement to India’s existing EV charging infrastructure and examined the factors shaping users’ adoption intention.
Methodology : An exploratory sequential mixed-method approach was employed. The qualitative phase involved thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 30 EV industry managers to identify conditions supporting or constraining platform implementation. Insights from this phase were subsequently translated into a structured questionnaire administered to 238 Indian EV users. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-sample t-tests, and multiple regression.
Findings : The respondents reported dissatisfaction with existing charging infrastructure and favorable attitudes toward sharing-based charging. Environmental, financial, social, and technological benefits positively influenced adoption intention, while trust, data security, and institutional problems acted as barriers. The model explained 70.5% of the variance in adoption intention.
Practical Implications : The findings suggested that successful platform development required emphasis on environmental and economic value alongside technological usability and social integration, supported by effective data protection, consumer safeguards, and regulatory clarity.
Originality : The study combined ecosystem-level managerial insights with consumer-level evidence to explain the adoption potential of sharing-based EV co-charging in India.
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