The Delhi–Mumbai Expressway (NE-4) is designed to be India's first highway fully ready for electric vehicles. With EV charging every 50 km as part of the wayside amenity plan and a dedicated electric highway lane in the pipeline, NE-4 is the most EV-friendly long-distance highway India has built.
Here is the complete picture for EV drivers in 2026: what's built, what's planned, and how to plan your Delhi–Mumbai EV journey today.
What's Planned: EV Infrastructure on NE-4
NHAI has committed to the following EV infrastructure across NE-4's 93 wayside amenity stops:
- EV charging stations at every wayside amenity stop — spaced approximately every 50 km along the full 1,386 km route
- Fast chargers (DC) at major stops — targeting 30–60 minute charging time for most EVs
- AC slow chargers at all stops for overnight or extended-stay charging
- Multiple charging points per stop — to handle peak traffic without queuing
The charging network is being set up in partnership with NHAI-approved operators including Tata Power EV, Statiq, Charge Zone, and BPCL's EV charging network.
What's Available in 2026
As of mid-2026, the operational sections of NE-4 have varying levels of EV charging availability:
Haryana & Rajasthan (Sohna–Dausa, Kota sections)
The Sohna–Dausa stretch opened in February 2023 and has been operational the longest. Wayside amenity development on this section is the most advanced. Several charging points are active, particularly near Sohna, Alwar approaches, and Dausa.
Madhya Pradesh (244 km, fully open since September 2023)
The MP section has wayside amenities under development. Some fast charger installations are operational at major stops between Neemuch and Ratlam. NHAI has been actively expanding EV infrastructure on this section given its early opening.
Gujarat (multiple sections open 2024–2026)
Vadodara and Bharuch area stops have EV charging available. The Kim–Enna section that opened in June 2026 includes new wayside amenity developments with EV charging as standard.
Important note: The wayside amenity program is ongoing. Not all 93 planned stops are complete. Before driving, check the NHAI website or specific charging network apps for live charger availability.
How to Plan an EV Trip on NE-4
Step 1: Check your EV's range
Most modern EVs sold in India have a real-world range of 250–450 km per charge. Examples:
- Tata Nexon EV — ~250–300 km
- Tata Punch EV — ~280–320 km
- MG ZS EV — ~350–400 km
- Hyundai Creta Electric — ~450–500 km
- Tata Curvv EV — ~400–450 km
For a Tata Nexon EV with ~270 km real-world range, you'll need to plan a charging stop approximately every 200–220 km (leaving 20–25% buffer).
Step 2: Identify your charging stops
With charging every ~50 km on NE-4, you have multiple options per charge cycle. The key is identifying which stops have fast DC chargers (30–60 min charge) vs slow AC chargers (3–6 hours). For a through-journey, you want DC fast chargers.
Recommended charging stop cities on the Delhi–Mumbai NE-4 route:
- Sohna or Alwar area — ~80 km from Delhi
- Dausa area — ~210 km from Delhi
- Kota area — ~465 km from Delhi
- Ratlam/Mandsaur — ~690 km from Delhi
- Vadodara — ~940 km from Delhi
- Bharuch/Kim — ~1,010–1,080 km from Delhi
- Maharashtra section stops — pending full opening
Step 3: Use charging network apps
Before and during your journey, use these apps to find live charger availability:
- Tata Power EZ Charge — extensive network on NHAI highways
- Statiq — growing presence on NE-4 corridor
- Charge Zone — strong in Gujarat and Maharashtra
- NHAI One app — official NHAI app with wayside amenity locations
Step 4: Plan your overnight stop
For a full Delhi–Mumbai journey in an EV (currently ~18–22 hours of road time due to partial construction), plan for an overnight stop. Vadodara (midpoint, ~940 km) is a natural stopping city — major hotels with EV charging, and a large city with multiple charging options.
The Electric Highway: What's Coming
NE-4 is the first Indian highway planned to include a dedicated electric highway lane — an overhead catenary or inductive charging system for electric trucks and buses. This is part of NHAI's long-term vision to electrify freight on the Delhi–Mumbai corridor.
Key facts about the planned electric highway:
- Dedicated lane for electric commercial vehicles (trucks, buses)
- Targeting a 69% reduction in logistics costs for electrified freight
- Expected to deploy progressively as EV commercial vehicle adoption grows
- Technology being evaluated: overhead pantograph (for trucks), battery swap stations, and inductive charging
The electric highway lanes are in the design and pilot phase — they are not yet operational on any section.
Tips for EV Drivers on NE-4
Charge to 80%, not 100% — DC fast charging slows significantly above 80% state of charge. Stop at 15–20% and charge to 80% for the fastest turnaround.
Pre-condition the battery — In hot weather (which is common on the Rajasthan and Gujarat sections, especially in summer), pre-cool your battery and cabin before departure. Heat reduces range.
Use eco/range mode on expressway sections — The consistent 100–110 km/h speed of expressway driving is actually more efficient than city driving for EVs. Use eco mode to maximise range.
Have a backup plan — The EV charging network on NE-4 is growing but not yet universally reliable. Always know the nearest city with multiple charging options before entering a long stretch.
Carry a portable charger (Type 2 cable) — Many hotels along the route can provide an AC charging point from a regular 32A socket overnight. A Type 2 cable gives you more flexibility.
EV vs Petrol Car on NE-4: Is It Worth It?
For the Delhi–Mumbai journey, an EV is significantly cheaper on fuel costs:
| Vehicle | Fuel cost (Delhi–Mumbai) | |---|---| | Petrol car (15 km/l, ₹103/litre) | ~₹9,500 | | Diesel car (20 km/l, ₹90/litre) | ~₹6,200 | | EV (6 km/kWh, ₹15/kWh fast charge) | ~₹3,465 |
EV charging on the route costs roughly 60–65% less than petrol at current rates. The total trip savings on fuel alone are ₹5,000–₹6,000 compared to a petrol car.
The main trade-off is time — charging stops add 1–2 hours to the journey compared to a petrol car. As fast chargers become faster (350 kW vs current 60–120 kW) and EV ranges increase, this gap will shrink.
For the latest wayside amenity and EV charging updates, check nhai.gov.in. See all current NE-4 interchanges on the Entry & Exit Points map.