Electric vehicle usage is on the rise in Bengaluru with more than 4.9 lakh electric vehicles presently in the city. This development comes at a time when the number of vehicles is increasing in Bengaluru, which means that Bengaluru’s road traffic is being congested and pollution is worse than ever, and more people are turning to electric vehicles for transportation as an alternative to petrol and diesel vehicles.
According to the figures provided, Karnataka has approximately 8.9 lakh electric vehicles, of which more than 4.9 lakh are registered in Bengaluru. That means the state capital accounts for more than half of all electric vehicles in the state. The numbers are testimony to Bengaluru’s strong position in the state’s electric mobility transition and indicate increased consumer interest in EVs across different categories of vehicles.
Bengaluru Registers 13,389 Electric Vehicles in August
The new registration figures also show the pace of EV adoption in the city. Bengaluru had 76,508 new vehicle registrations in August. Of these, 13,389 were electric vehicles. So electric vehicles made up about 17.5% of all new vehicle registrations in the city in that month.
In total, 26,636 electric vehicles were registered across Karnataka in August, of which 13,389 came from Bengaluru. This means that about half the electric vehicles across the state were registered in Bengaluru in August. And so this is indicative of the importance of the city to the ever-growing electric vehicle market in Karnataka.
Bengaluru is also registering thousands of vehicles per day. Around 2,500 to 3,000 new vehicles are being registered in the city daily. With the population of vehicles being around 1.40 crore, the increasing use of electric vehicles could gradually change the composition of the city’s vehicle fleet.
Electric Scooters Drive EV Adoption
Electric two-wheelers appear to be one of the major contributors to Bengaluru’s EV growth. In fact, 300 electric scooters are registered every day in the city, and 40 electric cars are registered every day. The growing popularity of electric scooters is particularly relevant for Bengaluru as two-wheelers are widely used in the city for daily commuting.
According to the numbers, 9,453 two-wheelers were registered in Bengaluru in the last month, and around 71% were electric two-wheelers. The numbers suggest that consumers are keen on electric mobility in the two-wheeler segment.
The electric vehicle fleet in Bengaluru has become quite a big player in the last few years. In the city, the number of electric vehicles has increased almost 32 times in the last five years (as per data). The rapid growth is due not only to the rise in the availability of EV models but also to the rise in awareness of alternative transportation options.
Bengaluru’s Electric Vehicle Fleet
Bengaluru’s electric vehicle fleet now includes various types of vehicles. The city has around 3.8 lakh electric scooters and 46,596 electric cars. Furthermore, there are around 9,922 electric cabs, 6,855 passenger autos, and 9,876 goods autos that are electric vehicles.
There are also about 2,009 electric buses in the city. The expansion of electric buses and commercial vehicles is significant because electrification is not just about private ownership of vehicles. The use of electric vehicles in public transportation, passenger services, and goods movement could contribute to a broader transition away from fuel-based vehicles.
EV Growth and Air Pollution Concerns
The increase in the adoption of electric vehicles in Bengaluru is taking place amid concerns about city air quality. Diesel and petrol-based cars produce exhaust emissions, while battery-electric vehicles do not. Thus, more use of electric cars will help with the local air pollution problem, but the environmental impact of EVs will be affected by electricity generation, battery manufacturing, and charging infrastructure.
As electric vehicle registration continues to grow, so does the need for charging infrastructure alongside the adoption of EVs. As more electric scooters, cars, cabs, autos, and buses come into the city, such charging facilities are going to be more important for users.
With more than 4.9 lakh electric vehicles already registered in Bengaluru and thousands of new EVs being added, the city remains a key player in the electric mobility expansion in Karnataka. With 13,389 electric vehicles registered during August (out of 76,508 new registrations), the August registration numbers show that EVs are increasingly visible in Bengaluru’s transportation ecosystem.
