India’s shift toward green mobility is accelerating fast. In 2023, it became the third-largest automobile market in the world, marking not just rising demand, but a fundamental change in how the country moves. At the center of this shift is the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, led largely by homegrown players. Electric two-wheelers alone now make up around 62% of all EV sales, thanks to their affordability, convenience, and sleek designs, especially popular in urban areas.
To match this momentum, over 26,000 public EV charging stations have been installed across the country, as per the Ministry of Power. But many remain underused due to poor location planning and limited consumer understanding, revealing a gap between infrastructure and actual use. Still, the bigger story is how Indian startups and conventional auto brands are rewriting the EV playbook, driving not just cleaner mobility, but smarter, more accessible, and locally relevant and applicable solutions for everyday Indians.
India’s journey toward electric mobility is not just about reconnecting with a global trend, it’s a movement rooted in the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India. What makes our transition extraordinary isn’t just the scale, but the fact that we’re building this transformation from the ground up. Unlike many other countries, we’re not depending solely on imported technology or ready-made solutions. We’re shaping our own future, step by step, designing systems that work for us, not around us.
What’s particularly inspiring is how Indian innovators have amped up to the challenge. From designing electric vehicles that can handle rougher roads to creating cost-effective models ideal for last-mile deliveries, the focus has been on real-world usability. In the last few years, we’ve seen a massive rise in electric rickshaws, tens of thousands of them now ply our roads. They’re not just reducing emissions, they’re also delivering a livelihood to thousands and making urban transport more convenient.. This isn’t just green mobility, it’s a grassroots change in motion.
Battery-as-a-Service: A Scalable Indian Solution
For India’s electric mobility shift to be truly sustainable and scalable, invention must stay grounded in local realities. One of the most promising ideas attaining traction is the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model. Instead of waiting hours to charge, vehicles can simply swap out consumed batteries for fully charged ones, an approach that makes perfect sense for bustling city fleets and regions where power supply remains patchy.
What makes BaaS particularly suited to India is its capacity to cut down charging downtime, keep vehicles on the road longer, and decentralize the entire charging ecosystem. In a country as diverse and fast-paced as ours, solutions like these aren’t just innovative, they’re crucial and necessary. BaaS could well be the missing link that makes EVs truly practical for daily life, especially for delivery services, public transport, and last-mile operators.
Circular Economy: Made in India, Recycled in India
Sustainability goes beyond merely changing fuels; it involves creating a complete circular system. Indian firms are now restoring essential materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel from discarded battery packs and repurposing them in fresh manufacturing. This in-country recycling ability enhances supply chains, reduces expenses, and bolsters India’s long-term EV durability and longevity.
Financing That Matches Real Incomes
One of the biggest enablers of EV adoption in India yet often overlooked, is the rise of adaptable and context-aware financing. In a country where a large portion of the workforce earns through mobility, traditional loan models simply don’t fit the bill. For gig workers, delivery riders, and self-employed drivers, rigid EMIs or heavy upfront costs can be a deal-breaker.
That’s why alternative models like pay-per-kilometer, micro-leasing, and fleet subscriptions are gaining traction. These options align better with unexpected income patterns and offer a way into EV ownership without long-term financial pressure. Platforms like Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) take this a step further by offering ownership and license plans that match repayment cycles to real earnings, making EVs not just aspirational, but actually accessible. Financial organization, too, are starting to catch on, rolling out low-interest EV loans, even in semi-urban and rural pockets. This shift in financing is more than a policy win; it’s a sign that India’s EV movement is becoming inclusive at its core.
Jobs, Skills, and a Green Workforce
The transition towards green mobility goes beyond technology; it represents a substantial job opportunity. From EV production lines and parts manufacturing plants to repair facilities and recycling centers, India is experiencing the emergence of an eco-friendly workforce.
Government initiatives such as PM E-DRIVE and NSDC certifications are closing skill gaps by educating technicians, engineers, and mechanics for the electric vehicle sector. The outcome? A workforce centered on sustainability that is more inclusive and prepared for the future.
Social Impact on the Ground
In my view, electric vehicles are important for improving air quality, especially in crowded cities where pollution is a serious concern. By cutting down on harmful emissions like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, EVs can make a real difference in reducing respiratory and heart-related illnesses. This isn’t just good for individual health—it also helps ease the strain on healthcare systems. To me, supporting the shift to electric vehicles is a smart move for the health and well-being of society as a whole.
Make in India, Export to the World
India is not only fulfilling its own electric vehicle demands but also developing a model for other developing markets. By 2024, India represents the largest market for three-wheeler EVs globally, having sold over 700,000 units, accounting for over 57% of worldwide sales in this category. Most Indian EVs, priced below $20,000, are perfectly placed for export to Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Locally developed electric mobility solutions are engineered to endure strong and resistant conditions, including extreme heat, dust, heavy traffic, and unreliable power infrastructure, all of which are frequent in numerous developing countries. These are not merely responses to local issues; they incorporate scalable solutions of global significance.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Action
At its core, India’s electric vehicle movement is more than a shift in how we lessen, it’s a powerful expression of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in motion. Indian companies are no longer just assembling vehicles from imported parts,they’re building the brains and the backbone of electric mobility right here. From designing domestic battery management systems to exploring new cell chemistries, the push is toward complete technological ownership across the value chain.
What’s truly exciting is how local research and engineering talent is shaping this future. Whether it’s modular Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) platforms or IoT-enabled smart batteries, innovation is being driven by Indian minds solving Indian problems. This isn’t just progress, it’s a deliberate and conscious and strategic shift toward building long-term industrial strength through homegrown solutions.
India’s EV future is undoubtedly being built on its own terms. With provident innovation, region-specific supply chains, inclusive financing, and scalable infrastructure, we’re proving that sustainability doesn’t have to come at the cost of growth. It’s being crafted here, by us, and for us.
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