Most EV charging partnerships are not "franchises" like food brands — they are partner programs. The brand may help with software, onboarding, and sometimes visibility, but your success still depends on location, power readiness, and uptime.
What you should compare — before comparing brands
- Commercial model: upfront fee, revenue share, or both
- Who owns the charger
- Software + payments and settlement cycle
- Service support in your city
- Lock-in: can you switch later?
- Visibility on apps/maps
- Exit terms
Main categories of partner options
1. Network-led operators
They focus on public charging networks and user discovery via apps. Strong on visibility and payment infrastructure, but economics can be tighter due to revenue share.
2. Hardware-led companies
They sell chargers and provide software/onboarding. Often good for offices and societies where you want more control over pricing and operations.
3. Energy / utility-backed players
Higher trust for premium sites and institutional setups, but may be less flexible on commercial terms and slower to move.
A comparison template you can use
| Item | Partner A | Partner B | Partner C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront fee (₹) | — | — | — |
| Revenue share (%) | — | — | — |
| Charger ownership | — | — | — |
| Settlement cycle | — | — | — |
| Service response time | — | — | — |
| Warranty + AMC | — | — | — |
| Lock-in period | — | — | — |
| Exit terms | — | — | — |
| Visibility in your city | — | — | — |
Questions you must ask every partner
- Total first-year cost (setup + AMC + platform fees)
- How do I earn money and what is my share?
- How often will I get paid?
- Who handles refunds and failed payments?
- Service response time in my city?
- Lock-in and exit terms?
Common traps to watch for
- "Biggest network" — but weak presence in your area
- "Fast charger = higher profit" — not if utilisation is low
- "We handle everything" — without clear responsibilities written down
If you compare partners on service support, commercial terms, and lock-in/exit first, the best option becomes much clearer than any online ranking.