As the world celebrates World EV Day, India's significant progress in adopting electric vehicles (EVs) across various categories is commendable, though there is still a long way to go.
Data from the Government of India’s Vehicle Dashboard shows that there is a growing trend towards green mobility solutions.
The most notable trend in EV penetration has been seen in the three-wheeler category, where EVs have taken the lead in overall sales. According to the data, 53.61 percent of all new three-wheelers purchased this year (2024) were electric, making this segment the leader in EV adoption.
The two-wheeler segment has also shown encouraging signs of EV adoption, with electric vehicles accounting for 4.97 per cent of all two-wheeler sales so far in 2024.
While this percentage is lower than that of three-wheelers, the two-wheeler category has significant growth potential given its dominance in India's overall vehicle sales market. As more consumers seek cost-effective and eco-friendly options, EV penetration in this segment is expected to increase further in the coming years.
However, EV adoption in the four-wheeler segment is relatively low, with electric cars accounting for only 2.14 per cent of total car sales this year. Despite this, the increasing availability of EV models and government incentives are expected to drive further growth in the segment.
Interestingly, electric buses have a higher penetration than electric cars, with 3.20 percent of all new buses sold in 2024 being electric. This trend highlights the growing importance of sustainable public transport solutions as cities aim to reduce emissions and promote cleaner options in mass transport.
“Electric vehicles offer a very attractive solution because they have no tailpipe emissions, which improves their air quality, thereby reducing air pollution. It also reduces carbon emissions, so it helps India meet its climate goals and electric vehicles generally have lower operating costs as compared to IC engine vehicles,” Samhita Shiledar, Director, RMI told ANI.
At a state-wise level, Vahan dashboard data highlighted that Goa leads the country in EV penetration, with 14.20 per cent of all new vehicles sold this year being electric. Tripura is in second place, followed by Chandigarh in third. Delhi also leads with 10.72 per cent penetration of EVs in total vehicle sales, reflecting the capital's move towards sustainable urban mobility.
On the other hand, electric vehicle penetration was the lowest in Himachal Pradesh, where only 1.09 per cent of new vehicles sold were electric.
In terms of the total number of EV sales across all segments in India, the two-wheeler category dominates the electric vehicle market in India, accounting for nearly 51 per cent of total EV sales this year.
World EV Day highlights the global commitment towards clean mobility solutions, with India's data reflecting a promising shift but there is still a long way to go towards electrification across various vehicle segments.
