India’s electric mobility journey is accelerating, but one crucial question remains—who will build and manage the EV charging backbone? Addressing this challenge, Mercedes-Benz & TERI Launch EV Charging Skills Programme called Future-In-Charge, a first-of-its-kind initiative to empower professionals with cutting-edge knowledge and practical expertise. Designed to bridge the widening skill gap, this programme blends technical training, real-world exposure, and future-ready skills for charge point operators. More than just a training effort, it’s a bold step toward creating a green workforce for tomorrow. Curious about how this will reshape India’s EV future? Let’s explore further.
Whitepaper: Diagnosing the Skills Gap
Unveiled at the Mercedes-Benz Sustainability Dialogue India 2025, their jointly authored whitepaper titled “EV Charging in India: Ecosystem Perspectives and Skilling Opportunities” sets the context. It highlights that Charge Point Operators (CPOs) are the backbone of India’s charging infrastructure — yet face skill deficiencies across the board. Key constraints identified include:
- Limited hands-on training opportunities,
- Absence of standardised training modules, and
- A shortage of qualified trainers skilled in both technical know-how and operational nuances.
Consultations with 150 experts from OEMs, Academia, CPOs, and other stakeholders across regions like Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata reinforced these findings. The report emphasised that almost 50% of the skill requirements for CPOs involve installation and testing of charging infrastructure and IoT-enabled digital applications, followed by troubleshooting, service optimisation, and smart grid integration.
From Insight to Action: ‘Future-In-Charge’ Programme
Responding directly to these deficits, MBRDI and TERI launched the Future-In-Charge programme under the umbrella of Mercedes-Benz’s Sustainability Garage initiative. Central to the programme is a curriculum that is:
- Approved by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), and
- Endorsed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
This comprehensive curriculum spans:
- Fundamentals of EVs and battery technologies,
- EV charging infrastructure from basics to advanced,
- Installation, operation, and maintenance protocols,
- Safety standards and regulatory practices,
- Troubleshooting and diagnostics,
- Digital monitoring tools for charge point management,
- Emerging trends such as smart charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration.
Bringing Theory into Practice
The inaugural cohort of 60 trainees has begun their journey at TERI’s Gwal Pahari campus, engaging in a mixed learning model that includes:
- Classroom sessions,
- Hands-on training with real charging hardware and software tools,
- Case-based learning, simulations, and site visits to charge points.
This pilot serves as a blueprint for scaling the initiative through collaborations with CPOs, academic institutions, and industry players across India.
Voices of Leadership
- Manu Saale, Managing Director & CEO of MBRDI, encapsulated the programme’s vision:
“Sustainability goes beyond technology; it is about people. With Future-In-Charge, we are not only bridging the skills gap but also tackling systemic barriers… a holistic change in the EV skilling and infrastructure landscape.” - Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General of TERI, added:
“With India accelerating its shift towards clean mobility, building a skilled workforce in EV charging infrastructure is crucial… a forward-looking step to bridge industry needs with youth talent.”
Scaling for the Future
Beyond the pilot, Future-In-Charge is poised to expand nationwide, aligning with India’s electric mobility goals and creating green-job opportunities. Leveraging TERI’s research expertise and MBRDI’s R&D capabilities—spanning over 8,500 professionals across Bengaluru and Pune centres—the initiative promises to catalyse a capable workforce to power India’s EV infrastructure.
Conclusion
The Future-In-Charge programme embodies a strategic leap in India’s journey toward sustainable mobility—not merely building charging stations, but equipping people to operate, maintain, and advance them. This intervention, rooted in rigorous research and collaborative action, offers hope for a resilient, scalable, and skilled EV ecosystem nationwide.
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