In the state of Karnataka, the number of electric cars (EVs) has steadily increased. The number of registrants increased by 1275% between 2020–21 and 2023–24. Officials from the transport department claim that Karnataka is ranked third in India for the number of electric vehicles in use, with Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra at the top of the list.
There were just 1922 electric vehicles in 2017–18. Currently, there are 159,428 of them, comprising two, three, and four-wheelers. There are 3.4 lakh electric vehicles in Karnataka. Of these, 2.98 lac are two-wheelers, 23,516 are four-wheelers, and 18,246 are three-wheelers.
Why was the number of EV buyers lower in Karnataka previously?
“There were very few buyers when these vehicles were first introduced,” stated Jnanendra Kumar, Additional Transport Commissioner. They were unsure of how they would function, and concerns regarding charging stations were also there. There were just 1922 electric vehicles in 2017–18, comprising 236 four-wheelers, 1589 three-wheelers, and 97 two-wheelers. Currently, there are more electric vehicle dealers in Karnataka and more charging stations in towns and cities, which has increased the number of electric vehicles.
To raise public awareness of environmental issues, the Karnataka government is offering incentives for electric cars, with the exception of those that cost more than Rs 25,000. The quantity of EVs has increased as a result of this. In 2023–24, there were 140,327 registered EVs with two wheels, 13,667 with automobiles, and 5,434 with three wheels.
