Nearly 165 years ago, we invented our first internal combustion engine, and now the world is slowly moving away from it. Several factors, including the depletion of fossil fuels, sustainability concerns, rising carbon emissions, lower ownership costs, and increasing fuel costs, are encouraging us to rethink how energy, infrastructure, and mobility should work. This is not just a technology transition, but a fundamental shift in systems.
And, electric vehicles check all these boxes.
But EVs need more than just cleaner technology. They depend on clean energy grids, strong infrastructure, good coordination, and disciplined operations. These are the reasons why some countries have made more progress with EVs, while others are still at the early stages.
As we plan how to speed up EV adoption in India, we need to look at where we stand now. Today, the main question isn’t whether EVs are the future, but whether we can create a system that works well at scale.
What has the world got right about EVs so far?
By the mid-2020s, electric vehicles had become mainstream. As of now, global EV sales have surpassed 19 million units annually, and in markets such as China and parts of Europe, EVs account for over 25% of new vehicle sales.
EV adoption in China is a clear example of building at scale. It now accounts for nearly 60% of global EV manufacturing and has installed over 1.8 million public charging points, the highest in the world. While on paper, this success is due to long-term investments in supply chains, renewable energy, and charging infrastructure, not just vehicle subsidies, but in reality, this happened because EVs became more practical and convenient for consumers.
The main takeaway is that people pick EVs when they trust the system. When everything works well, people are willing to change their habits as well.
Where does India stand on the EV map?
India’s progress with EVs is promising, even though it looks different from that in developed countries. We are a global leader in electric three-wheelers, according to NITI Aayog, thanks to their widespread use in day-to-day transport. In many cities, EVs are already the main choice for last-mile travel. In the past ten years, the share of EVs in new vehicle sales has grown from almost nothing to about 8% of all new vehicle registrations in 2025, according to Vahan Portal data.
Despite that, India’s total EV use remains much lower than the global average, and achieving 30% EV adoption by 2030 will be challenging.
The first wave of EV users has already made the switch. The harder part is getting more people to use EVs across cities, highways, fleets, and public transport. At this stage, India can learn from the experiences of other countries.
Lesson 1: Having consistent policies can improve investor confidence.
One thing is clear from the top EV countries: having defined emission rules, charging standards, and long-term plans has attracted manufacturers, infrastructure companies, and significant capital.
India has made progress through programs such as FAME, PLIs (production-linked incentives) and new manufacturing initiatives. But frequent policy changes, short-term incentives, and shifting regulatory timelines create uncertainty among investors and companies alike.
Building EV infrastructure, like charging networks, grid upgrades, and electric fleets, takes time to show results. These investments need steady policies. For private investors to participate, India must provide clear, long-term plans rather than just making announcements.
Lesson 2: Vehicles with structured and systematic infrastructure will build confidence.
A key lesson from around the world is that people choose EVs not just because they are available, but also because the infrastructure is reliable, as in China.
In leading EV markets, charging stations are considered essential parts of the energy system. They are planned along with highways, cities, and power grids. People know where chargers are, whether they work, and how long charging will take. This level of certainty changes behaviour.
Today, India has one of the highest EV-to-public-charging-station ratios among major EV markets, with estimates indicating roughly 1 public charging station for every 235 EVs. But the issue is not just the number of chargers, it is coordination and how well they are managed. Moreover, chargers in India are unevenly located, inconsistently maintained, and lack real-time updates, which only do so little to build trust.
Also, range anxiety is usually not about battery size. It is about not knowing what to expect, and the uncertainty of when the next charger will be available will slow down adoption more than any technical issue.
Lesson 3: Need to build supply chains for affordability.
China’s advantage in EVs comes from its strong supply chains. By managing battery production, electronics, and key materials, China has quickly lowered costs and grown rapidly.
India is approaching a crucial moment, as battery demand will grow exponentially over the next decade, not only for EVs but also for energy storage. This gives us a chance to build local capabilities in battery manufacturing, electronics, and energy systems.
This isn’t just about reducing imports. It’s about keeping costs down in a market where price matters the most. Without local supply chains, EVs will always struggle to compete on price.
Lesson 4: Empower buyers to choose EV by introducing ownership models.
Around the world, EV adoption sped up when ownership models changed. Countries such as China, North America, Taiwan, and Europe introduced leasing, subscription, battery-as-a-service, and specialised fleet financing models, which reduced upfront costs and aligned with how people actually use vehicles.
This is important for India, since our mobility system is based on usage, not just aspiration. For fleets, logistics companies, and public transport, vehicles are tools for making money.
The fastest EV growth in India will not come from personal car buyers. It will come from vehicles that operate all day, every day. Creating policies, infrastructure, and financing for these high-usage groups is essential, not optional.
Lesson 5: Trust is built through experience, not promises.
As battery prices drop and charging networks get better, EVs will become more competitive with ICE vehicles in terms of total cost of ownership. Still, many consumers are hesitant.
Globally, successful EV markets have closed this gap not through marketing, but through consistency: ensuring last-mile charging, operational efficiency, predictable downtime, and transparent costs. And over the course, trust followed.
Ultimately, EV adoption is all about confidence and reliability.
What should India focus on?
If India wants to match global EV ambitions and possibly lead in its own way, we must shift our focus to:
- Creating a charging infrastructure that is visible, reliable, and well-integrated across cities and highways.
- Offering long-term incentives aligned with efficiency and utilization, not just vehicle sales.
- Building strong domestic supply chains for batteries and energy systems.
- Designing and integrating deep digital integration, including smart charging, energy optimization, and predictive maintenance.
- Prioritising segment-first electrification, especially for two-wheelers, three-wheelers, fleets, and public transport.
India’s strengths are scale and software. If used well, we can turn EV infrastructure from a fixed network into a responsive, well-connected ecosystem.
On a final note
The global EV transition has so far been about who electrifies fastest or sells the most vehicles, but the real challenge is building mobility systems that work well at scale. These are systems where energy is used efficiently, infrastructure is optimised, and users are not left uncertain.
India does not need to copy global EV models without thinking. Our conditions are different, with denser cities, higher usage, and tighter margins. But this is exactly why India has the chance to create a better model.
If we focus on intelligence, coordination, and operational efficiency, not just vehicle numbers, we can build an ecosystem that truly resonates with a developed nation.
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