Riding India's Electric Two-Wheeler Wave

India's electric two-wheeler market is booming with over 640,000 units sold by December 2023, despite consumer apprehensions and the call for better infrastructure

- Kanaad Chatterjee

Electric scooters make perfect sense for India. They silently zip through the chaotic symphony of honking cars, meandering cows, and the occasional street cricket match, without adding a single note to the cacophony. Imagine cruising past a gas station with a smug smile, not because you're trying to make friends with the attendant, but because your ride sips electrons, not expensive petrol. Take a look around during peak hour traffic. The same streets which were once flooded by Dios and Activas of the world are now replaced by the silent whirring of Athers and Olas, unless there is music blaring out of the infotainment of the latter.

No wonder the electric two-wheeler (E2W) market in India has experienced substantial growth leading up to March 2024, showcasing the country's increasing inclination towards electric mobility. Between April 2021 and September 2022 alone, over 4.6 lakh units of low-speed E2Ws were sold across India, with projections indicating that by the end of FY2023, sales were expected to reach approximately 7.3 lakh units, as per reports. This trajectory suggests a significant uptick in E2W adoption, with the market expected to burgeon to 67.14 lakh vehicles by FY2027. A noteworthy development in this period was the launch of 54 new lithium-ion battery-based E2W models, underscoring the industry's rapid innovation and expansion.