Government says PM E-DRIVE supported sales of over 26.5 lakh EVs, pushes indigenous manufacturing, charging infrastructure
New Delhi, August 4
The PM E-DRIVE scheme has supported the sale of 26.54 lakh electric vehicles as of July 22, 2026, while the government is expanding charging infrastructure and promoting domestic manufacturing of EVs and components, according to the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
The government informed the Lok Sabha that PM E-DRIVE, which is being implemented from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2028, has an overall allocation of Rs 10,900 crore, of which Rs 2,322 crore had been released and utilised as of July 22, 2026. The scheme has supported 23.79 lakh electric two-wheelers, 2.68 lakh electric three-wheelers in the L5 category, 6,547 e-rickshaws and e-carts, and 55 electric trucks. It has also allocated 14,000 e-buses.
Maharashtra recorded the highest number of EVs supported under PM E-DRIVE at 4.28 lakh, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 2.78 lakh and Karnataka at 2.67 lakh. Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh followed with 2.59 lakh and 1.73 lakh EVs, respectively.
The government is also focusing on expanding the charging network. Under PM E-DRIVE, proposals for 5,871 EV chargers across nine states had been approved as of July 22. Karnataka received approval for the largest number at 1,571 chargers, followed by Delhi with 1,146 and Rajasthan with 805. Separately, 691 chargers of three oil marketing companies have also been approved under the scheme.
However, the government clarified that no chargers had been installed under PM E-DRIVE as of July 22, indicating that the charging infrastructure component remains at the approval and deployment stage.
Under the earlier FAME-II scheme, 9,583 EV public charging stations had been installed nationwide. FAME-II also supported 16.71 lakh EVs and deployed 5,297 electric buses. Karnataka accounted for 2.58 lakh EVs supported and 1,221 e-buses, while Maharashtra recorded 3.13 lakh EVs and 830 e-buses.
On manufacturing, the government said the Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) has been mandated under FAME-II and PM E-DRIVE to promote indigenous production of EVs and components, including battery packs, by manufacturers, including those in Karnataka.
The government also clarified that Karnataka has the second-highest number of EV public charging stations in the country, with 6,805 stations as of March 31, 2026. Under PM E-DRIVE, Rs 153.10 crore has been approved for deploying 1,571 chargers in the state.
For the broader transition to electric mobility, the government said there are no state-wise, district-wise or financial-year-wise targets under PM E-DRIVE. Instead, the scheme has segment-wise targets, while Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated for establishing adequate EV public charging stations across India.
The government is also providing Rs 780 crore to modernise four EV testing agencies ARAI, ICAT, NATRAX and GARC -- to strengthen national EV certification capabilities.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good initiative overall, but I wish they would focus more on electric buses and public transport rather than just two-wheelers. In Mumbai, our local trains and BEST buses need a major green overhaul. Private EVs are great, but the common man relies on public transport. Also, why no chargers installed yet under PM E-DRIVE? That's concerning.
Impressive numbers for sure. India is making real progress in EV adoption, and the emphasis on indigenous manufacturing through PMP is the right call. Let's just hope the charging infrastructure catches up quickly, otherwise the transition will stall. Also, glad to see Karnataka and Maharashtra leading the charge. 👏
The lack of installed chargers under PM E-DRIVE is a bit worrying. It's been over two years since the scheme started, and we've only approved chargers, not installed any? That's the kind of bureaucratic delay we're used to, I guess. But credit where it's due - the EV sales numbers are genuinely encouraging. I hope they prioritize Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities for charging too, not just metros.
Good to see the government investing in testing agencies like ARAI and ICAT. We need robust certification for safety and quality if we want to compete globally. The ₹10,900 crore allocation is substantial. But please, let's also address the battery disposal and recycling issue before it becomes an environmental nightmare. Sustainable EV adoption needs a full lifecycle plan. ♻️
As someone who drives an EV in Chennai, the charging situation is improving but still patchy
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.