India’s electric vehicle sales grow 37.5% to 22,000 units

New Delhi: Sales of electric vehicles in India grew by 37.5% to 22,000 units in the year ended 31 March, according to industry lobby group Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV).

Of these, only 2,000 units were four-wheelers. The lobby group said that industry sold 16,000 units in 2014-15.

At these levels, India remains miles away from its objective of selling 6 million electric vehicles by 2020, a vision stated by the government through the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 and FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles).

“It would be tough to achieve (the target) unless ground level infrastructural deficiencies were removed and credit facilities eased for buying green vehicles,” SMEV said in a statement.

However, SMEV took solace from increased awareness among commuters about electric vehicles “and the fact that people are seeing a good value proposition in EVs,” said Sohinder Gill, director of corporate affairs at SMEV.

“Intentions at policy level abound but government at every level, be it Centre, State or Municipal, now has to go the extra mile to facilitate mass migration to green mobility,” he said.

Lack of basic infrastructure facilities like charging stations and difficulties in availing credit from banks for buying such vehicles are impediments to the growth of the sector.