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E-Mobility | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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E-Mobility

Posted 04 Sep 2025

Updated 06 Sep 2025

5 min read

Why in the news?

NITI Aayog released its report "Unlocking a 200 Billion Dollar Opportunity: Electric Vehicles (EVs) in India" along with the first India Electric Mobility Index.

About India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI)

  • India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI), a first-of-its-kind tool to benchmark states' progress in e-mobility, was launched by NITI Aayog, in partnership with World Resources Institute India.
  • It tracks 16 performance indicators under 3 thematic categories-
    • Transport Electrification Progress: Tracks EV adoption on the demand side.
    • Charging Infrastructure Readiness: Assesses charging network development.
    • EV Research & Innovation: Evaluates supply-side R&D efforts.
  • The index groups states into four categories: Achievers (100), Front Runners (65–99), Performers (50–64), and Aspirants (0–49).
    • For the year 2024, Delhi led the rankings with a score of 77, followed by Maharashtra (68), Chandigarh, and Karnataka.

About Electric Vehicles (EVs)

  • Types: Battery EVs (entirely battery-powered); Hybrid EVs (have both engine and electric motor); Fuel Cell EVs (utilize 'fuel cell technology' to generate electricity for propulsion); Plug-in Hybrid EV (uses both an engine and a rechargeable battery) etc.
  • Status of E-mobility in India (Unlocking a 200 Billion Dollar Opportunity: Electric Vehicles in India)
    • 2.08 million EV sales in 2024, up from 50,000 in 2016.
    • 7.6% EV penetration in 2024, far below the 30% target for 2030.
Infographic listing benefits of EVs over Internal Combustion Engine vehicles- Zero tailpipe, Energy efficiency, reduced oil imports, lower costs, user convenience

Key Challenges highlighted in the report

Challenge Area

Specific Issues

Financing Challenges (e-Buses & e-Trucks)

  • High capital cost: E.g., EV buses/trucks cost 2–3× ICE vehicles, making shift difficult for the small players.
  • High EMI burden: Doubts among financial institutions over repayment ability of small operators.

Vehicle-Centric Challenges

  • Heavy & costly batteries reduce truck load capacity.
  • 15-year scrappage rule lowers resale value.

Charging Infrastructure Challenges

  • Public charging almost 4 times expensive as home charging (18% GST + operator margins).
  • Problems in getting upstream power supply connections from DISCOMs: E.g. differences in fee structures for getting connections and in tariff structures for electricity supplied.
  • Land constraints in cities/highways.
  • Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) perceive a safety risk with charging stations.
  • Lack of collaboration between DISCOMs, ULBs, transport departments, and state nodal agencies.
  • Absence of integrated app for locating, booking & paying.

 Awareness & Perception Challenges

  • Confusion due to differing incentives in states such as exemption for permits of lower tax rates.
  • Weak/fragmented awareness campaigns.
  • Misconceptions: fire safety, battery degradation, range anxiety, resale anxiety.

Inadequate data and regulatory gaps

  • VAHAN database does not accurately capture data on different categories of EVs, making policy design, subsidy targeting, and progress monitoring difficult.
  • Absence of unique battery IDs weakens tracking, resale, and recycling ecosystems.
  • Inverted GST for manufacturers as Input GST at 18% and output GST at 5%, which blocks the working capital and input tax gets piled up.

Steps taken by India to boost EV adoption

  • PM E-DRIVE Scheme: Supports e-2Ws, e-3Ws, e-trucks, e-buses, e-ambulances, and charging infrastructure and provides demand incentives for consumers (buyers/end users) to purchase certain categories of EVs.
  • Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India: To attract investments from global EV manufacturers and promote India as a manufacturing destination for passenger cars. 
  • PM e-Bus Sewa – PSM (Payment Security Mechanism) Scheme: It targets deployment of 38,000+ e-buses and ensures payment security for operators against defaults by Public Transport Authorities
  • PLI Scheme for Automobile & Auto Components: To boost domestic production of Advanced Automotive Technology products, ensure 50% value addition, and attract investments in the auto sector.
  • PLI – Advanced Chemistry Cell: Supports 50 GWh domestic battery manufacturing, reducing imports.
  • Cost Reduction: GST on EVs cut from 12% to 5%.
  • EVolutionS program: Launched by Department of Science & Technology (DST) targeting EV startups.

Way Forward: Recommendations highlighted in report

  • Moving from Incentives to Mandates: Set targets for production of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs); impose Higher registration fee/taxes for ICE etc. 
  • Saturation Approach: 100% electric mobility adoption across 5 designated Indian cities within 5 years, leveraging infrastructure development, fleet electrification mandates, and targeted financing mechanisms.
  • Financing e-Buses and e-Trucks: Create a pooled fund from public and multilateral sources to provide low-interest loans for procurement.
  • Battery Research: Build academia–industry–government partnerships to accelerate work on new chemistries.
  • Strategic Charging Infrastructure: Develop 20 key corridors, set up nodal agencies, map hub locations, and use Time-of-Day pricing to boost efficiency.
  • Unified National EV App: Provide services for locating charging stations, booking slots, payments, and explore dedicated EV power lines.
  • Lowering Upfront Costs: Promote leasing models for buses and trucks to aid small operators and battery as a service (BaaS); Introduce a battery passport for health tracking; etc.
    • Batteries constitute almost 40 % of capital cost of an EV.
  • Awareness and Information: Launch a national EV awareness program, assess stakeholder data needs, and develop a comprehensive information system to guide decision-making.

Best Practices for EV Adoption

  • China: "10 Cities, 1000 Vehicles" program was a flagship initiative for 10 pilot cities, each tasked with deploying at least 1,000 New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) in public fleets. 
  • Singapore: Established EVElectric Charging Pte Ltd (EVe), a wholly owned subsidiary of their Land Transport Authority to facilitate the establishment of charging stations, by coordinating with all the relevant agencies.
  • Europe: ChargeMap app provides real-time charging station data, user reviews, and is integrated with navigation systems. 
  • UK: Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) explicitly funds projects to bridge the gap between working prototype and commercialisation; Faraday Battery Challenge (funded by public and sector sector) created the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC)- a facility that enables companies to scale lab prototypes to production.
  • Tags :
  • EV
  • E-Mobility
  • India Electric Mobility Index
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