Archive · 18 Sep 2026
India's EV Sales Rise, But Private Buyers Remain Skeptical
Electric vehicles are becoming more common in India.
Their share of vehicle sales grew from 0.5% in 2018 to 8.25% in 2025-26.
More than 8.7 million electric vehicles are now on Indian roads.
However, private owners are switching more slowly than governments and commercial fleets.
Kerala and Goa had the highest private EV adoption, at 12%.
Tripura had the highest commercial adoption, at 61%.
One possible reason private buyers remain cautious is that charging access differs greatly between states.
Delhi also leads in public chargers and EV startups, showing that infrastructure and business activity are important parts of the transition.
Electric vehicles rose from 0.5% of Indian vehicle sales in 2018 to 8.25% by 2025-26, with more than 8.7 million on the roads.
Delhi topped the India Electric Mobility Index 2025, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chandigarh and Goa.
Private EV adoption was highest in Kerala and Goa at 12%, followed by Karnataka at 11%.
Commercial EV adoption was much higher in some states, reaching 61% in Tripura, partly due to government-supported buses and fleets.
Delhi had the most public chargers per lakh registered vehicles, while EV startup activity was strongest in Delhi relative to state economic output.
- Who
- Indian states and union territories, private vehicle owners, commercial fleets, NITI Aayog and WRI India.
- What
- The India Electric Mobility Index 2025 assessed EV adoption, charging infrastructure, and EV research and innovation across states and union territories.
- When
- The index assessed progress during 2025; EV sales data cited covers 2018 through 2025-26.
- Where
- India, with Delhi, Kerala, Goa, Karnataka, Tripura and other states showing differing results.
- Why
- The assessment examines the growth of electric mobility and why private EV adoption remains lower than commercial adoption in many places.
- EV share of sales in 2018
- 0.5% of vehicle sales
- EV share by 2025-26
- 8.25% of vehicle sales
- EVs on Indian roads
- More than 8.7 million
- IEMI 2025 leader
- Delhi, with a score of 84
- Highest private EV adoption
- Kerala and Goa, at 12%
- Highest commercial EV adoption
- Tripura, at 61%
- Public charging leader
- Delhi, with 41.1 operational public chargers per lakh registered vehicles