BENGALURU: The state has seen a nearly 1,500 per cent increase in e-vehicle registrations in three years, as per statistics from the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH). While 6,150 EVs were registered in 2019, the number hit 95,856 in 2022.
Last year, monthly registrations of EVs crossed 10,000 in October (10,787) and November (10,960). There are 2.9 crore vehicles in the state, of which 1.5 lakh are EVs, including 1.3 lakh two-wheelers and 9,831 cars.
Experts say soaring fuel prices, lower maintenance cost, increased awareness and availability of more models from different manufacturers are behind the spike in e-vehicle registrations.
Pawan Mulukutla, director (energy technology and green mobility) at World Resources Institute India, an NGO, said: “Karnataka, especially Bengaluru, is always an early adopter of new technology. In fact, Bengaluru is a startup hub and also home to several e-mobility firms. People are more aware and environmentally conscious. Also, battery-run two-wheelers are now available at a lower cost than petrol-run ones. Many RWAs/highrises are also setting up charging infrastructure.”
According to Mulukutla, the government should now focus on encouraging auto drivers to convert their vehicles into electric ones.
In March 2016, the state government exempted all EVs from paying road tax. But many other states/UTs offer financial subsidies for EVs along with road tax exemption. The Karnataka transport department is now mulling ending 100 per cent road tax exemption given to battery-run vehicles. If approved, EVs will be costlier here.
“We are expecting a further rise in sales of electric vehicles in the state in the coming years. The government will soon take a decision on whether to withdraw the road tax exemption. We will have to impose a small percentage of road tax on EVs, else there will be a huge reduction in revenue from vehicle registrations,” said a transport department official.
Registration charges have already been waived for all EVs across the country. In August 2021, MoRTH announced all battery-operated vehicles are exempt from ‘payment of fees for the purpose of issue or renewal of registration certificate’. Karnataka was the first state to come up with an Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy in 2017. Experts fear a move to impose MV tax on EVs is likely to discourage prospective buyers.
Karnataka at 4th spot
At present, there are 19.3 lakh EVs in the country. Uttar Pradesh has the most (4.9 lakh), followed by Maharashtra (1.94 lakh), Delhi (1.91 lakh), and Karnataka (1.5 lakh).
While EVs made for only 0.4 per cent of the total vehicles registered in 2019, their share in the total registrations in 2022 touched 6.3 per cent