India should continue encouraging cleaner transportation. However, EV promotion should not become an end in itself. A prudent long-term strategy would focus on:
- Building a domestic battery manufacturing ecosystem to reduce import dependence.
- Expanding reliable and widespread charging infrastructure before pushing large-scale adoption.
- Electrifying public transport on priority, especially buses and urban mobility systems.
- Investing in cleaner electricity generation alongside transport electrification. [
- Addressing all major sources of pollution, not just vehicle emissions.
The ultimate objective should be cleaner air and better mobility, not merely a higher number of electric vehicles on the road.
It is also worth recognizing that an EV is only as clean as the electricity used to charge it. If large numbers of EVs are powered by electricity generated from coal-based thermal power plants, part of the pollution burden may simply be shifted from vehicle tailpipes in cities to power-generation centers elsewhere. The environmental outcome may still be positive in some cases, but it is not automatically pollution-free.
Therefore, the real comparison should not be limited to petrol cars versus electric cars.
A more fundamental question is whether public policy should prioritize moving people rather than vehicles.
- Replacing millions of petrol cars with millions of electric cars may reduce tailpipe emissions, but it does little to solve congestion, road crowding, parking shortages, and the ever-growing demand for urban land.
- Replacing millions of individual trips with efficient and affordable public transport can simultaneously reduce emissions, traffic congestion, energy consumption, and infrastructure costs while improving urban quality of life.
A full bus removes dozens of cars from the road. A metro train can replace hundreds. Investments in buses, metro systems, suburban rail, last-mile connectivity, pedestrian infrastructure, and cycling networks often deliver benefits that extend far beyond emission reduction.
The larger pollution challenge in India also deserves attention. Vehicular emissions are only one contributor among many. Construction dust, road dust, industrial emissions, thermal power plants, biomass burning, agricultural residue burning, diesel generators, and waste burning all contribute significantly to deteriorating air quality. Focusing disproportionately on private cars risks overlooking these other major sources.
A balanced national strategy would therefore combine:
- Clean public transport,
- Cleaner power generation,
- Domestic battery manufacturing,
- Robust charging infrastructure,
- Scientific pollution source assessment,
- And targeted action against all major emitters.
The goal should not be to maximize EV sales. The goal should be to create healthier cities, cleaner air, greater energy security, and more efficient mobility.
Public policy succeeds when it improves outcomes, not when it promotes a particular technology. EVs are a tool; cleaner air and better mobility are the objectives.
EV Reality Check: Not Every Country Has Been a Success Story
While electric vehicles (EVs) are growing globally, several countries have faced significant challenges, slower adoption, or market setbacks:
Germany • EV sales dropped sharply after the government ended purchase subsidies in late 2023. • Germany recorded one of the biggest declines in EV sales across Europe during 2024.
Japan • EV adoption remains relatively low compared to Europe and China. • Consumers continue to prefer hybrid vehicles, resulting in slower growth of fully electric cars.
United States (partial setback, not a failure) • EV growth has slowed in certain periods. • Some automakers have scaled back EV production plans amid weaker-than-expected demand. • Changes to tax incentives have also affected sales momentum.
Australia • For many years, EV uptake lagged due to limited incentives and charging infrastructure. • The situation has improved significantly in recent years, making it a growing market today.
Many Developing African Nations • EV penetration remains below 1% in numerous countries. • Key barriers include high vehicle costs, inadequate charging infrastructure, and electricity supply challenges.
The lesson?
EV adoption is not just about technology. Government policies, subsidies, charging networks, consumer preferences, and affordability all play a critical role in determining success.
CHINA
China's EV sector is a story of both extraordinary success and costly excess. Massive growth was accompanied by overcapacity, failed businesses, subsidy-driven distortions, and abandoned vehicle fleets—challenges often seen in industries experiencing rapid expansion.
The lesson is simple: rapid growth can create winners and losers. China's EV revolution transformed the global auto industry, but it also provides an important warning about the risks of subsidy-fuelled booms and unchecked expansion.