Electric vehicles (EVs) are important for reducing our use of petrol and diesel, but in India, EVs still haven’t become very popular—especially electric cars, which make up only 2% of total cars on the road.
A new report by NITI Aayog shows that EV growth in India is much slower compared to countries like China and those in the West. So far, only 7.6% of all vehicles in India are electric. The goal is to reach 30% by 2030, but that means a lot of progress must be made quickly in the next few years.
Why are electric cars growing so slowly in India?
- Not just about cars: EVs include trucks, buses, and bikes too. While trucks and delivery vehicles are picking up, passenger cars are still lagging behind.
- Not enough charging stations: On average, 14 cars share one charging station in India. In China, it’s 9 per station and in the US, it's 16 per station. This makes charging harder and less convenient in India.
- Lack of awareness: Many people don’t know enough about EVs. For example, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) often refuse to allow chargers in housing societies, fearing battery explosions. Also, people are scared off by the high upfront cost, even though EVs save money in the long run.
- Battery technology: India started using NMC batteries which aren’t very safe for the environment. We now use LFP batteries, which are better, but newer technologies like solid-state batteries are still in the testing phase and not available in the market.
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What NITI Aayog Suggests to Improve EV Growth
- Make EVs mandatory: Instead of just giving discounts on EVs, start making rules that push people and companies to choose EVs over petrol/diesel cars.
- Focus on selected cities first: Start by fully developing EV infrastructure in 5 cities in 5 years, then expand to 20 and finally to 100 cities.
- Invest in battery R&D: Support research for newer and better batteries that are safer and last longer.Improve charging stations: Build more stations and make it easier to find them using a single app, instead of separate apps for different brands.
- Cut initial costs: Introduce battery leasing options and a system to track battery health so people don’t have to pay a huge amount upfront.
- Spread awareness: Run public campaigns to educate people and clear myths about EV safety, costs, and benefits.
In short, India needs to move faster with proper planning, better technology, and public education to make electric cars more common and help reduce pollution and fuel import costs.
