Tata Power, Statiq, ChargeZone, Jio-bp, Bolt.Earth — all major EV charging franchise options ranked by investment size, support quality, territory rights, and realistic ROI.
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The franchise vs. independent debate in EV charging has a clear answer for most first-time operators: franchise wins. Not because independent stations can't succeed — they can and do — but because the franchise model eliminates five of the six failure modes that kill new EV charging businesses: poor charger hardware, inadequate backend software, platform invisibility, no customer support coverage, and no brand recognition for EV users making charging decisions on the road.
In 2026, India's major EV charging operators — Tata Power, Statiq, ChargeZone, Jio-bp Pulse, and Bolt.Earth — all offer franchise or Channel Partner programmes that allow third-party site owners to deploy and operate branded chargers under the parent network's umbrella. This guide ranks the EV charging station franchise options in India by what actually matters for the business: investment requirement, earning potential, support quality, territory rights, and the honest trade-offs between each.
Franchise vs. Independent — The Decision Framework
The bottom line: If this is your first EV charging station, franchise is the lower-risk path. If you already operate a successful independent station and understand the business, going independent at scale gives you superior margin retention. Most operators start with franchise and transition to independent or hybrid for subsequent stations.
Top EV Charging Franchise Options in India — Ranked
Tata Power EZ Charge — Channel Partner Programme
5,500+ public stations, 620+ cities, strongest brand trust with Indian EV buyers
Tata Power's EZ Charge Channel Partner programme is India's most established EV charging franchise model. As a Channel Partner, you provide the land/site and invest in the electrical infrastructure, while Tata Power provides the chargers, backend software, OCPP management, app integration, and ongoing maintenance. Your station appears immediately on the EZ Charge app's 5,500+ station network — the largest public charging network in India.
The revenue model: Tata Power typically retains a platform/network fee (percentage of revenue or fixed monthly charge), and you keep the remainder after electricity costs. Exact revenue share terms are site-specific and negotiated — Tata Power evaluates location potential before confirming terms. For prime sites (highway fuel stations, large malls, corporate parks), the terms tend to be more favourable.
Statiq — Partner Network Programme
7,000+ chargers, Bolt.Earth interoperability, AI-optimised scheduling, subscription pricing
Statiq's Partner Network Programme is the fastest-growing franchise option in India's urban charging market. With 7,000+ chargers and the 2026 Bolt.Earth interoperability partnership — which makes Statiq-partner chargers accessible via Bolt.Earth's 1 lakh+ charger network — partners gain extraordinary discovery reach. The AI-optimised scheduling system, which suggests off-peak sessions to users, smooths utilisation and reduces the peak-vs-trough revenue volatility that affects manually managed stations.
Statiq's subscription pricing model (where EV users pay a monthly fee for reduced per-kWh rates) creates a recurring revenue base that is more predictable than pure pay-as-you-go charging. Partners on well-trafficked sites benefit disproportionately from subscription customers who choose their station consistently over alternative networks.
Jio-bp Pulse — Fuel Station Partnership
5,000+ stations, 95% fast-charging ratio, ₹16/kWh — best for highway and fuel station sites
Jio-bp Pulse's franchise model is structurally different from the others: it is primarily designed for existing petrol/diesel fuel station owners who want to add EV charging as an additional revenue stream at their existing site. The combination of Jio's payment infrastructure (UPI-native, no wallet top-up required) and bp's global fuelling station experience creates the most streamlined highway-context charging experience in India.
At ₹15.99/kWh — consistently 30–40% below Tata EZ Charge rates — Jio-bp Pulse stations attract price-sensitive highway users reliably. The 95% fast-charging ratio means the fleet is almost exclusively DC fast chargers, generating higher revenue per session than AC-heavy networks. For fuel station owners with highway-adjacent locations, this is the highest-ROI franchise option in the market.
ChargeZone — Franchise Partner Programme
Gujarat & Maharashtra leader, 400 kW Mega Chargers, 24/7 support, premium hardware
ChargeZone's franchise programme is distinguished by hardware quality and support reliability — the two factors that matter most when a charger fails at 11 PM on a highway. ChargeZone's 24/7 customer support is the highest-rated among all CPOs in India, and their 400 kW ultra-fast charger capability (the highest-power public chargers in India) creates a premium positioning that commands higher per-session pricing.
Their franchise footprint is strongest in Gujarat and Maharashtra, making this the optimal choice for sites in these states. The investment is higher than Bolt.Earth or Statiq for equivalent charger counts — but the 24/7 support, premium hardware, and west India network density justify the premium for the right location.
Bolt.Earth — Partner Station Programme
1 lakh+ charger access, Statiq interoperability, slot booking, lowest franchise barrier
Bolt.Earth's Partner Station Programme has the lowest entry barrier of any major CPO franchise in India, making it the best option for first-time operators with smaller sites — apartment complexes, smaller offices, neighbourhood commercial developments. Access to 1 lakh+ chargers via the Bolt.Earth + Statiq combined network means partners get extraordinary discovery reach at relatively low investment. Slot booking capability is a differentiator for residential sites where predictability of charging availability matters more than speed.
Servotech / Delta / Exicom — Hardware + Independent CPO
Buy BIS-certified chargers directly, self-manage CPO software — maximum revenue retention
For operators who want maximum revenue retention and full operational control, purchasing chargers directly from hardware manufacturers (Servotech, Delta Electronics, Exicom — all BIS IS 17017 certified) and operating under their own CPO software is the highest-margin route. You retain 100% of charging revenue after electricity cost and software fees — versus 60–80% under most franchise models. The trade-off is full responsibility for platform listing, customer support, maintenance, and regulatory compliance.
This route makes most sense for operators with: an existing high-traffic site (petrol station, large mall, corporate campus), prior operational experience, and the resources to manage a 24/7 charging facility independently. Not recommended as a first EV charging business without a strong operational background.
Franchise Comparison at a Glance
| Franchise | Min Investment | Network Size | Best For | 24/7 Support | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tata Power EZ Charge | ₹5–25 lakh | 5,500+ stations | Pan-India, first franchise | ✓ Yes | 2.5–3.5 yrs |
| Statiq | ₹5–30 lakh | 7,000+ stations | Urban commercial | ✓ Yes | 2–3 yrs |
| Jio-bp Pulse | ₹8–30 lakh | 5,000+ stations | Fuel station owners | ✓ Yes | 18–28 mo |
| ChargeZone | ₹8–40 lakh | West India focus | Gujarat/Maharashtra | ✓ 24/7 best | 2–3 yrs |
| Bolt.Earth | ₹2–12 lakh | 1 lakh+ combined | Residential, small sites | Business hours | 2.5–4 yrs |
| Independent | Hardware cost only | Self-listed only | Experienced operators | Self-managed | Highest (if managed well) |
"The franchise route reduces time to first revenue by 60–90 days compared to independent setup because the software, listing, and compliance infrastructure is already built. For a first-time operator, that gap is the difference between a successful launch and a frustrating one."— IMARC Engineering EV Infrastructure Report, 2026
✓ Choosing the Right EV Charging Franchise — Decision Tips
- Match franchise to your site type: highway or fuel station → Jio-bp Pulse; urban commercial → Statiq; Gujarat/Maharashtra → ChargeZone; residential or small first site → Bolt.Earth; pan-India brand recognition → Tata EZ
- Negotiate revenue share before signing — many CPOs offer improved terms for premium sites (high EV density areas, expressway locations). Terms are not always fixed
- Ask about exclusivity clauses before signing — some franchise agreements restrict you from adding a competing CPO's chargers to the same site, limiting your future flexibility
- Check subsidy eligibility under the franchise model — some government schemes require the station operator (not the CPO) to be the applicant. Clarify this with your franchise partner before applying. See our Government Subsidy Guide
- For the full cost implications of each franchise model, see our EV Charging Station Cost Guide
The Right Franchise is Determined by Your Site, Not Brand Preference.
India's EV charging franchise landscape in 2026 is mature enough to have a clear best option for every site type — and different enough between options that choosing the wrong franchise for your location is a meaningful mistake. Match franchise to site type, negotiate terms before signing, and use the subsidy guide to reduce your effective investment by 20–80% before committing capital.