EV Adoption in India: What it Means for Daily Commuters

It is a bright sunny morning, and you’re pleasantly heading off to work. A pit stop at the petrol bunk to refuel before you continue. The price, which once ranged from ₹60 to ₹80 per litre, now reads ₹100 per litre. The smile fades a little, but what choice is there?

After dinner, you sit down to check the monthly expenses. Rent, groceries, and bills are all cleared. Then there's fuel on which ₹3,500 is spent. Some months it touches ₹4,000. All of this for a 20 km to 25 km daily ride, and a few small weekend spins around the city. Money that could've gone into your savings or doing something you actually enjoy.

Sunday comes, but not for rest. You run to the mechanic shop early in the morning to get your 2-wheeler serviced before anyone else. The oil needs changing, the chain is loose, and the engine is acting weird. ₹1,800 later, half the day is spent already. It could've been with family instead.

While riding back home, the same thought hits. Why does commuting to work daily cost so much? Why does it cost money, time and weekends too? There must be another way.

Yes, there is. And it is already happening across India. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has found that the share of EVs in the overall two-wheeler market crossed 6% in 2024-25.

Electric vehicles aren't a concept of the future anymore. They are already here, on real Indian roads, ridden by real people who once faced the same problems. Let's look at what EV adoption in India means for daily commuters.

What is EV Adoption and Why is India Moving Towards it?

EV adoption in India simply means more people are switching from petrol and diesel vehicles to electric ones. It is not a sudden trend. It has been building up for years, and now it's finally picking up speed in India.

According to recent reports, India's electric 2-wheeler market crossed a major milestone in 2024, with 1.15 million units sold, up 33% from 2023. By 2025, sales reached 1.28 million units, an 11% increase despite GST adjustments and aggressive pricing from petrol bike manufacturers.

Why is the shift happening? Three big reasons:

First, India imports most of its fuel. Every litre of petrol burned means money leaving the country. EVs run on electricity, which can be generated locally.

Second, pollution. Vehicle emissions are a major contributor to the rising air pollution in Indian cities. EVs produce zero exhaust emissions, which means cleaner air for everyone.

Third, rising fuel costs. It looks like the petrol prices aren't coming down anytime soon. For daily commuters who cover 20-30 km every day, the math is simple. An electric bike in India is cheaper to run.

(y-axis units in crores)

India isn't just thinking about EVs anymore. It is actively making the switch, one commuter at a time.

Key Factors Driving EV Adoption in India

The switch to EVs is happening for clear reasons. These clear reasons are pushing daily commuters toward EV adoption, and they directly affect their wallet, daily routine and monthly budget.

Rising Fuel Prices and Daily Commute Costs

Petrol prices have been climbing for years. What was ₹70 per litre a few years ago is now well over ₹100 in most cities. For someone commuting 25 km daily, that's roughly ₹3,500 to ₹4,500 spent on fuel every month.

Compare that to an electric bike. Charging costs are a fraction of fuel expenses, often under ₹500 per month for the same distance. That is money saved, month after month.

Government Policies Supporting EV Adoption

The government is strongly promoting EV adoption through electric vehicle subsidy.

• FAME I (April 2015 - March 2019): India's first demand incentive scheme to encourage electric mobility adoption.
• FAME II (April 2019 - March 2024): Allocated ₹11,500 crore and supported over 16.71 lakh EVs, with focus on 2-wheelers and 3-wheelers.
• EMPS (April - July 2024): A short-term Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme introduced as a bridge to keep subsidies flowing between FAME II and the next scheme.
• PM E-DRIVE (October 2024 - March 2028): The current active scheme with ₹10,900 crore allocated. Continues supporting 2-wheelers and 3-wheelers, with ₹2,000 crore earmarked specifically for public charging infrastructure.

Through schemes like these, an EV buyer gets subsidies from both the centre and the state governments that bring down the upfront cost. The FAME II scheme distributed subsidies (in crores) across different years and vehicle types. Here's how it breaks down:

Many states offer additional incentives such as lower road tax, registration fee waivers, and sometimes even cheaper electricity rates for EV charging. For a commuter, this means an EV bike price at ₹1.2 lakh can come down to under ₹1 lakh after subsidies. That gap makes a difference when opting to buy an electric bike.

Current State of EV Adoption in India

Electric vehicles have become a common sight on Indian roads. They are not limited to tech parks or big cities anymore. Today, you can spot electric bikes outside offices, apartments, colleges and even in front of small shops. That is how fast EV adoption in India is growing.

Interestingly, 2-wheelers are leading this charge. Because 2-wheelers fit perfectly into daily Indian life. Delivery riders use them, office commuters ride them, and even students prefer them for daily college runs. This is exactly why an electric bike in India makes sense.

Cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune have the most electric bikes on the road. But it's not just metros anymore. Semi-urban and tier-2 cities like Jaipur, Coimbatore, and Indore are catching up fast.

Why are 2-wheelers dominating? They are affordable and practical. The price gap between a petrol bike and an electric bike in India is much smaller compared to cars. Daily commuters cover 50-60 km, which aligns perfectly with the current EV range. Lower running costs make the choice obvious for city riders.

The Reality of EV Infrastructure in India for Daily Commuters Today

EV adoption sounds great, but let's be honest. It might feel a bit confusing until we read about the benefits on this day. Charging infrastructure, range anxiety, EV bike price, and upfront costs. These used to be real challenges. But here's what's actually happening on the ground right now:

2. Subsidies are Making EVs More Affordable

Yes, the 2-wheeler EV price in India is more upfront than petrol bikes. But that gap is closing fast with the help of government subsidies.

An electric bike priced at ₹1.2 lakh can drop to under ₹1 lakh after central and state subsidies. That ₹20,000-₹30,000 reduction makes a real difference. Plus, you're saving ₹3,000+ monthly on fuel, so the higher upfront cost gets recovered within 8-12 months of daily riding.

The FAME II scheme alone supported 16.71 lakh EVs between 2019-2024, with ₹6,558 crore in subsidies distributed. The support system is real and working.

3. Range Anxiety is Mostly Psychological

"What if the battery dies mid-ride?" This is the most common fear—and the least realistic one for daily commuters.

Most modern electric bikes offer 120-130 km real-world range (with 175 km IDC). For someone doing a 30-50 km daily commute, that's approximately 4+ days of riding on a single charge. Even if you forget to charge one night, you're still covered.

Don't just take our word for it. This is what 2-wheeler EV riders have to say from their experience:

• Oben Rorr EZ Sigma First Ride Review - ZigWheels - Convenient Commuting Tested in Real City Conditions
• Oben Rorr EZ Sigma - LFP Battery - 8 Years Warranty - Is This the Affordable, Performance-Oriented Electric Bike We've Been Waiting For?

Range anxiety exists before you buy an EV. After a week of ownership, it disappears.

4. Charging Time Has Drastically Reduced

You can charge electric bikes overnight at home while you sleep, just like your phone. You wake up to a full battery every morning. And for times when you need a quick top-up? Fast charging technology, such as Oben Plug, has changed the game:

• 1 hour of fast charging = up to 80% battery (enough for 100+ km)
• 30 minutes = up to 50% charge (good for 60-70 km)

With home charging flexibility, your bike is always ready. With fast charging, you're back on the road in an hour.

5. More Information, Less Confusion

The "awareness gap" that existed 3-4 years ago is shrinking fast. Here’s why:

• YouTube is full of real user reviews and long-term ownership experiences.
• EV communities and forums where actual riders share tips and maintenance costs.
• Manufacturer transparency on battery warranty (Oben offers 8 years or 80,000 km whichever comes first in it's T8 plan for Oben Rorr EZ Sigma).
• The resale market is forming with platforms dedicated to used EVs.

How EV Adoption Helps Reduce Pollution in Cities

Let's talk about air quality. Indian cities rank among the most polluted in the world, and vehicles consistently account for the largest share of combustion-related pollution across multiple studies. The IIT-Kanpur (2015), TERI-ARAI (2018), and SAFAR-IITM (2018) studies estimate the transport sector's contribution to PM2.5 emissions at 20%, 39%, and 41%, respectively. During winter pollution episodes, this share increases even further.

Electric vehicles quietly improve city life in many simple ways:

• Zero Tailpipe Emissions: Electric bikes produce no exhaust fumes. No carbon monoxide, no nitrogen oxides (NOx), no particulate matter (PM2.5). Just silent, clean rides.
• Cleaner Air for Daily Commutes: Petrol and diesel bikes release harmful gases that everyone breathes in during rides. According to the Centre for Science and Environment research, NOx emissions are particularly high during peak traffic hours, with higher levels at 5-9 PM than at noon. EVs eliminate that completely.
• Reduced Smog in Cities: Studies show that if pre-BS-VI vehicles were replaced with EVs in designated Low Emission Zones, PM2.5 emissions could be reduced by up to 91% within a year. Even modest EV adoption can improve air quality.
• Better Health for Everyone: Cleaner air means fewer respiratory problems, less asthma, and better health for children and older adults. The benefits of e-bike adoption go beyond fuel savings.
• Proven Environmental Impact: India's EV adoption from 2020 to 2024 has already prevented an estimated 10 million tonnes of carbon emissions. As more commuters switch, this impact will compound significantly.

As EV adoption in India grows, cities will breathe easier. And so will the people living in them.

EV Adoption in India is Reshaping Everyday Travel

Here is where things stand now. EV adoption in India is well beyond the early stage or the experimental phase. The daily commuters are actively switching to save time and money. For years, commuting meant the same routine. Fuel stops, rising bills, servicing visits and weekend repairs. It felt normal.

Throughout 2025, India achieved a record ~1.28 million electric two‑wheeler sales, making them the largest contributor to EV volumes nationwide. The future looks even brighter. By 2030, electric two-wheelers are expected to account for 60-70% of new sales, driven by their affordability and accessibility.

Charging gets easier, prices are coming down with Government subsidies, and range works fine for most city commutes. If the fuel payments and maintenance cycles are wearing you down, an electric bike might be worth considering. Oben Electric is at the forefront of building electric bikes specially for Indian roads and daily riders, focusing on real range, performance, affordability, and practical features. The switch is already underway, and you can be part of it.