New Delhi, Sept. 7 -- India seeks to transition its vehicular fleet from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles (EVs). The objectives are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as dependence on imported petroleum fuel and improve the air quality in its cities. While significant progress has been made, with about 2 million EVs having been sold in 2024, this is short of our target.

While the aim is to achieve an EV penetration rate of 30% by 2030, meaning 30% of the total vehicles sold in 2030 should be electric, we have been able to reach just 7.7% in 2024. This was after about nine years of effort. Getting to 30% in the next five years will, therefore, need a considerable step-up from business as usual. New and more a...