LUCKNOW, June 27 -- As Uttar Pradesh continues to witness unprecedented electricity demand during evening and night hours, power authorities are increasingly attributing the stress on the grid to the changing consumption patterns with charging of electric vehicles, especially e-rickshaws, emerging as a significant new contributor.

Officials estimate that EV charging alone now might be contributing nearly 2,000mw to peak load that is often experienced between 9pm and midnight. This is precisely the time when the overall electricity demand is at its highest and solar power generation that remains over 2,000-3,000mw in the daytime becomes zero after sunset.

According to officials, the issue is less about the number of EVs and more about th...