E-Vehicles vs Fuel Vehicles in India: Understanding the Real Numbers

India’s mobility story is changing, but not overnight. When people compare E-vehicles vs fuel vehicles in India, the assumption is often that electric vehicles are everywhere. The data says otherwise. Fuel vehicles still dominate India’s roads by a wide margin, even as electric mobility grows steadily.

Fuel Vehicles Still Dominate India’s Total Vehicle Population

Fuel powered vehicles remain the backbone of India’s automobile ecosystem. These include petrol, diesel, CNG, and hybrid vehicles across two wheelers, passenger cars, and commercial fleets.

In 2024 alone, India recorded approximately 26.04 million vehicle sales. Out of this:

• Petrol vehicles accounted for 19.18 million registrations or 73.7 percent
• Diesel vehicles stood at 2.62 million registrations or 10.1 percent
• Other fuel types including CNG and hybrids formed a smaller share

With nearly 400 million total vehicles registered in India, fuel vehicles continue to lead the E-vehicles vs fuel vehicles India comparison decisively.

Electric Vehicles in India Are Growing But Still a Small Share

Electric vehicles are expanding fast, but their overall share remains limited.

As of February 2025, India had approximately 56.75 lakh registered electric vehicles. When compared to the country’s total vehicle population, EVs represent only a small fraction.

Between April 2019 and March 2024, electric vehicles accounted for around 3.38 percent of total vehicle registrations. This confirms that while growth is real, EV adoption is still in its early stages.

Two Wheelers and Three Wheelers Lead India’s EV Growth

The electric revolution in India is not led by cars.Two wheelers dominate EV registrations because they are affordable, practical, and suited for daily commuting. Electric scooters and bikes form the largest segment of EV ownership.

Three wheelers are another major contributor. India is now one of the largest global markets for electric three wheelers, especially e rickshaws and electric auto rickshaws.

EV Segment Contribution Overview

This explains why EV growth looks strong despite low electric car numbers.

Why Fuel Vehicles Still Lead the Indian Market

Fuel vehicles have decades of dominance behind them. Their advantage comes from:

• Widespread fuel infrastructure
• Lower upfront costs
• Easier long distance usage
• Large existing fleet already on roads

Public EV charging infrastructure is expanding, but availability remains inconsistent in many regions. This slows mass adoption despite policy support.

Future Outlook of E-Vehicles vs Fuel Vehicles in India

Fuel vehicles clearly win today in sheer numbers. But electric vehicles are gaining ground steadily. With policy incentives, rising fuel costs, and better charging networks, EV adoption is expected to rise across segments.

The E-vehicles vs fuel vehicles India debate is no longer about replacement. It is about transition.

FAQs

Which has more vehicles in India, EVs or fuel vehicles?

Fuel vehicles dominate India with nearly 400 million total registrations, while EVs account for about 56.75 lakh vehicles.

What percentage of vehicles sold in 2024 were fuel powered?

Around 83 percent of vehicles sold in 2024 were petrol and diesel combined.

What is the current share of electric vehicles in India?

EVs account for about 3.38 percent of total vehicle registrations between 2019 and 2024.

Which EV segment is growing the fastest in India?

Electric two wheelers and three wheelers are growing the fastest due to affordability and daily use practicality.

Will electric vehicles overtake fuel vehicles soon?

Not immediately. Fuel vehicles still dominate, but EVs are steadily increasing their market share.