India's Journey Towards Electrification: A Long Road Ahead on World EV Day

On World EV Day, India showcases significant strides in electric vehicle adoption, particularly in the three-wheeler category. Despite notable progress, such as Goa leading in EV penetration and two-wheelers dominating total sales, the country still has ample room for growth in other segments to achieve full electrification.

As the world marks World EV Day, India's commendable progress in embracing electric vehicles (EVs) across various categories comes into focus, although significant work remains. Government data from the Vaahan Dashboard reveals a positive trend towards green mobility solutions.

The three-wheeler category has notably led EV adoption, with electric vehicles comprising 53.61% of new purchases this year (2024). The two-wheeler segment has also shown promise, constituting 4.97% of sales in 2024. Although lower than three-wheelers, two-wheelers hold substantial growth potential due to their dominance in India's vehicle sales market. Adoption in the four-wheeler segment remains low, with electric cars making up just 2.14% of sales. However, growing EV model availability and government incentives are poised to accelerate growth.

Electric buses have a higher penetration rate than cars, at 3.20% of new sales in 2024, underscoring the push for sustainable public transport as cities combat emissions. "Electric vehicles offer a compelling solution by reducing air pollution and operating costs, helping India meet climate goals," said Samhita Shiledar, Director RMI, to ANI.

Regionally, Goa leads in EV penetration with 14.20% of new vehicles being electric, followed by Tripura and Chandigarh. Delhi also shows strong numbers with a 10.72% penetration rate, driving sustainable urban mobility. Conversely, Himachal Pradesh reports the lowest EV penetration at 1.09%. Two-wheelers dominate total EV sales, accounting for 51% of the market in 2024. While India's shift towards electrification is promising, the journey to comprehensive adoption across all vehicle segments continues.

(With inputs from agencies.)