How to Become an Electric Vehicle Engineer in India: Salary, Skills, and Complete Roadmap 2026
India is in the middle of an electric vehicle revolution. The government has committed to 30% EV sales by 2030. Companies like Tata Motors, Ola Electric, Ather Energy, Mahindra Electric, and dozens of EV startups are all hiring aggressively. EV engineering roles now pay Rs 8 lakh to Rs 35 lakh per annum for engineers with the right skills. Yet most engineering graduates have no idea how to enter this field.
This is a complete, honest roadmap to becoming an EV engineer in India in 2026.
The State of EV Engineering Jobs in India
India added over 1.5 million electric vehicles in 2025, a 49% increase over 2024. The EV sector now employs over 50,000 engineers directly, with projections of 5 lakh engineering jobs by 2030.
The talent gap is severe. Companies like Ola Electric publicly state they struggle to find engineers with both electrical and software knowledge. This gap is your opportunity.
EV Engineering Specializations
| Specialization | Avg Salary (India) | Key Skills | Hiring Companies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Engineer | Rs 10-25 LPA | Electrochemistry, BMS, thermal mgmt | Tata, Mahindra, Exide, log9 |
| Power Electronics Engineer | Rs 8-22 LPA | Inverter design, motor drives, SiC | Ola Electric, Ather, Bosch |
| Motor Control Engineer | Rs 9-20 LPA | FOC algorithms, embedded C, PMSM | Tata Motors, TVS, BorgWarner |
| BMS Engineer | Rs 10-28 LPA | Li-ion chemistry, CAN bus, SOC estimation | Ola, HPCL, ISRO, startups |
| Charging Infrastructure Engineer | Rs 7-18 LPA | CCS, CHAdeMO, grid integration | Tata Power, EESL, Adani |
| EV Software Engineer | Rs 12-35 LPA | AUTOSAR, Python, CAN, MATLAB | All OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers |
Core Skills Every EV Engineer Needs
1. Power Electronics Fundamentals
Understanding DC-DC converters, inverters, and rectifiers is non-negotiable. Every EV has a battery pack (DC), a motor (AC), and a charger (AC to DC). Power electronics bridges all three.
What to learn: Buck-boost converters, IGBT and MOSFET switching, PWM control, three-phase inverter topology, thermal management.
Resources: Ned Mohan “Power Electronics” textbook, NPTEL Power Electronics course (free), our existing Power Electronics articles on this site.
2. Battery Technology and Management Systems
The battery is the most expensive component of any EV (40 to 60% of vehicle cost). Engineers who understand batteries are among the highest paid in the industry.
What to learn: Li-ion cell chemistry (NMC, LFP, NCA), cell-to-pack architecture, state of charge (SOC) and state of health (SOH) estimation, thermal management, battery management system (BMS) design.
Salary premium: Engineers with deep BMS expertise earn Rs 5 to 8 lakh more than general electrical engineers at the same experience level.
3. Motor Control and Drive Systems
Most EVs use Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM) or Induction Motors. Controlling them efficiently requires understanding Field-Oriented Control (FOC), a technique that optimizes torque and efficiency in real time.
What to learn: PMSM and BLDC motor operation, FOC and Direct Torque Control algorithms, embedded C programming for motor control, Texas Instruments motor control kits (practical).
4. Embedded Systems and Automotive Software
Modern EVs are essentially computers on wheels. The software stack includes AUTOSAR (Automotive Open System Architecture), CAN bus communication, real-time operating systems, and functional safety (ISO 26262).
Essential programming languages: Embedded C, Python for testing, MATLAB/Simulink for model-based design.
5. Vehicle Communication Protocols
EVs use specialized communication protocols that general electrical engineers rarely encounter:
- CAN Bus: Controller Area Network, the backbone of automotive communication
- LIN Bus: Local Interconnect Network for lower-priority signals
- OCPP: Open Charge Point Protocol for EV charging infrastructure
- CCS/CHAdeMO: Fast charging communication standards
Complete Learning Roadmap: Zero to EV Engineer in 12 Months
Phase 1: Months 1 to 3 (Foundation)
Week 1 to 4: Master power electronics fundamentals. Study DC-DC converters and three-phase inverters. Complete the NPTEL Power Electronics course.
Week 5 to 8: Learn battery fundamentals. Study Li-ion cell chemistry, SOC estimation methods (Coulomb counting, Kalman filter basics), and thermal behavior.
Week 9 to 12: Set up embedded development environment. Install STM32CubeIDE. Complete blinking LED to PWM output progression on STM32 development board (costs Rs 800 to 1,500).
Phase 2: Months 4 to 6 (Specialization)
Choose one specialization: Battery/BMS, Power Electronics design, Motor Control, or EV Software. Go deep rather than broad.
Build one project: A basic BMS monitoring board, a small BLDC motor controller, or a CAN bus data logger. This project will define your portfolio and your interview performance.
Phase 3: Months 7 to 9 (Portfolio and Certifications)
Get certified: TI Motor Control Workshop, Coursera EV courses by UC Davis or Lund University, Battery Management Systems Specialization (Coursera, Rs 3,000 to 4,000 total).
Complete a simulation project: Simulate an EV drivetrain in MATLAB/Simulink or Python. Document it thoroughly on GitHub.
Phase 4: Months 10 to 12 (Job Application)
Apply strategically: Target companies with the right match for your specialization. Ola Electric and Ather for power electronics. Tata Motors and BorgWarner for motor control. Log9, Exide, and Amara Raja for batteries.
Prepare for technical interviews: EV interviews test power electronics theory, motor control concepts, and programming skills simultaneously. Prepare all three.
Best Certifications for EV Engineers in India
| Certification | Provider | Cost | Duration | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Management Systems | Coursera (U Colorado) | Rs 3,500 | 5 months | BMS engineers |
| EV and HEV Overview | Coursera (UC Davis) | Rs 2,000 | 6 weeks | Beginners |
| TI Motor Control Workshop | Texas Instruments | Free | 2 days | Motor control engineers |
| AUTOSAR Fundamentals | Vector Learning | Rs 8,000-15,000 | 3 days | EV software engineers |
| ISO 26262 Functional Safety | Various providers | Rs 15,000-40,000 | 3-5 days | Safety-critical roles |
Top Indian Companies Hiring EV Engineers in 2026
Established OEMs: Tata Motors EV division (Pune, Mumbai), Mahindra Electric (Bengaluru, Pune), TVS Motor Company (Chennai), Hero Electric (Ludhiana)
High-growth startups: Ola Electric (Bengaluru), Ather Energy (Bengaluru), Simple Energy (Bengaluru), Matter (Ahmedabad), Ultraviolette (Bengaluru)
Component manufacturers: Bosch India, Continental India, BorgWarner India, Minda Industries, Exide Industries, Amara Raja Batteries
Charging infrastructure: Tata Power EV, EESL, Adani Electricity, ChargeZone, Statiq, Bolt.Earth
Salary Progression for EV Engineers in India
| Experience Level | Typical Role | Salary Range (LPA) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 1 year (Fresher) | Junior EV Engineer, Trainee | Rs 4 to 8 LPA |
| 1 to 3 years | EV Engineer, Software Engineer | Rs 8 to 15 LPA |
| 3 to 6 years | Senior Engineer, Tech Lead | Rs 15 to 25 LPA |
| 6 to 10 years | Principal Engineer, Architect | Rs 25 to 40 LPA |
| 10+ years | VP Engineering, CTO | Rs 40 to 80 LPA |
Common Interview Questions for EV Engineering Roles
Power Electronics: Explain the working of a bidirectional DC-DC converter. How does regenerative braking work at the power electronics level?
Battery: What is the difference between NMC and LFP cell chemistry? How do you estimate State of Charge using Coulomb counting?
Motor Control: Explain Field-Oriented Control. What is the difference between PMSM and BLDC motors?
Software: Explain CAN bus arbitration. What is AUTOSAR and why is it used in automotive systems?
Key Takeaways
- India is adding 5 lakh EV engineering jobs by 2030, creating a severe talent shortage that benefits engineers who prepare now.
- EV engineers earn Rs 8 to 35 LPA depending on specialization, with BMS and software engineers commanding the highest salaries.
- The core skills are power electronics, battery technology, motor control, and embedded software. You need all four at the foundational level.
- A 12-month structured roadmap can take a general electrical engineer to an entry-level EV role with the right project portfolio.
- Specialization pays: Go deep in one area (BMS, motor control, or EV software) rather than staying shallow across all areas.
- Indian companies are desperate for talent: Ola Electric, Ather, Tata Motors EV, and 50+ startups are actively hiring engineers with project experience.
- Certifications matter for freshers: The Coursera Battery Management specialization and TI Motor Control workshops significantly differentiate your resume.
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