Data: EV Penetration crossed 7% in 2024-25, up from 0.7% in 2019-20
The production & sale of EVs has increased significantly in the last few years. In 2023-24, the share of EVs in the total number of vehicles registered in the country was about 7%. With the increase in sale of EVs, the number of accidents involving EVs has also increased.
The Government of India has been promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs), recognizing their role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those related to clean technologies.
For instance, the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme was launched in 2015, offering substantial subsidies to both individual buyers and fleet operators to make EVs more accessible and affordable. The second phase of the scheme (FAME II) also focuses on building the necessary ecosystem, such as charging infrastructure, battery development, and technological innovation, to support long-term EV growth. Complementing this is the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for the automobile sector and advanced chemistry cell (ACC) battery storage, which aims to boost domestic manufacturing of EV components and reduce dependence on imports. Similarly, other initiatives such as the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) Go Electric Campaign, launched by the Ministry of Power, lay the long-term vision for e-mobility in India, targeting significant fuel savings and emission reductions.
Along with these initiatives, the production of EVs is also increasing in the country. However, amidst this growing trends, numerous instances of EVs catching fire, causing injuries and death of people, and increase in the road accidents involving EVs have made headlines on multiple occasions.
In this story, we look at the trends in the production of EVs, and the trends in road accidents involving EVs, with the data sourced from parliament questions and answers.
Production of EVs increased from 1.74 lakhs in 2019-20 to 16.82 lakhs by 2023-24
The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is widely recognized as a crucial step toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to the adoption of cleaner technologies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and address climate change. In India, the production of EVs has witnessed a significant jump in recent years across all categories of vehicles. According to a recent Lok Sabha reply dated 03 December 2024, the total number of EVs manufactured in the country has risen sharply from 1.74 lakh units in 2019–20 to 16.82 lakh units in 2023–24, an impressive growth of 866%. This upward trend is consistent across all segments, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger vehicles, and commercial vehicles, each registering steady year-on-year growth from 2020–21 to 2023–24
EV Penetration increased from below 1% in 2019-20 to 6.8 % by 2023-24
As per a recent Lok Sabha reply dated 25 March 2025, the share of electric vehicles (EVs) registered in India has been increasing steadily each year from 2019–20 to 2023–24, when compared to conventional fuel-based Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEVs). In 2019–20, a total of 244 lakh ICEVs were registered, while EV registrations stood at just 1.74 lakh—reflecting a penetration rate of merely 0.7% relative to ICEVs. Over the subsequent years, ICEV registrations fluctuated, recording 173 lakhs in 2020–21, 179 lakhs in 2021–22, 211 lakhs in 2022–23, and 229 lakhs in 2023–24. In contrast, EV registrations demonstrated a clear upward trend, rising from 1.4 lakh in 2020–21 to 4.5 lakh in 2021–22, 11.8 lakh in 2022–23, and reaching 16.8 lakh in 2023–24.
Despite this encouraging growth in EV adoption, ICEVs continue to dominate India’s vehicle landscape, accounting for over 93% of all vehicles as of 2023–24. While the Government of India has been actively promoting the use of EVs through various initiatives, there are currently no fixed national targets for increasing EV penetration. In fact, as per the August 2024 reply in the Rajya Sabha by the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), the government has clarified that it does not have any specific plans to raise EV adoption to 30% or more by 2030.
Between 2022 & 2024, Number of Accidents involving EVs have increased by 74%
Fire-related incidents involving EVs have been a topic of increasing concern in recent years. While there is no comprehensive national data on the total number of such incidents, the Government of India has acknowledged their occurrence in parliamentary replies dated 12 December 2023 and 28 March 2025. For example, the Government of Karnataka reported a total of 83 EV fire incidents between January 2020 and November 2024. The causes of these fires varied, including accidental ignition, battery explosions, and power leakages. Incident numbers were relatively low in the initial years, with seven cases in 2020 and three in 2021. However, there was a sharp rise thereafter, with nine cases in 2022, 28 in 2023, and 36 in 2024.
As per data provided in the Rajya Sabha reply dated 28 March 2025, there is a growing number of road accidents, fatalities, and injuries involving EVs. The number of accidents involving EVs rose from 4,363 in 2022 to 7,575 in 2024—an increase of approximately 74%. Likewise, fatalities in these accidents grew by 28%, and injuries by 62% during the same period.
Most States show increase in Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries
State-wise data from the parliamentary reply dated 28 March 2025 reveals significant regional variations in accidents, deaths, and injuries involving EVs between 2022 and 2024. During this period, 25 States/UTs reported an increase in accidents, 22 reported a rise in fatalities, and 20 saw a growth in injuries. Conversely, 4 States/UTs recorded a decline in accidents, 6 reported fewer deaths, and 8 saw a decrease in injuries. The remaining States/UTs either reported no such incidents or maintained the same figures in both 2022 and 2024.
When ranked by the total number of EV-related accidents, deaths, and injuries during this three-year period, Uttarakhand emerged as the highest in all three categories, reporting 2,857 accidents, 1147 deaths, and 3615 injuries. Madhya Pradesh followed Uttarakhand in the number of accidents and injuries, while Bihar ranked second in total deaths.
Notably, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan consistently ranked among the top five states in each year from 2022 to 2024. Kerala and Assam appeared in the top five rankings twice, while Maharashtra and Bihar featured once.