The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in India has largely been an urban phenomenon, with metropolitan areas experiencing a surge in adoption due to better infrastructure and heightened environmental awareness. However, rural India presents a complex landscape of both challenges and opportunities in shifting to electric mobility.

According to Inc42’s ‘India’s Electric Vehicle Startup Report 2025’, rural India accounts for 55% of two-wheeler sales nationwide, up 13% year-on-year (YoY). However, four-wheeler EV adoption remains a far cry. Despite government incentives, the affordability of four-wheeler EVs is a major barrier to their adoption.

Besides not being reasonably priced for the populace in the rural parts of the country, a lack of adequate charging infrastructure puts India’s EV30@30 vision in peril. This lack of EV infra discourages potential users from opting for an EV four-wheeler.

“The adoption of electric vehicles in rural India faces several significant challenges, including high upfront costs, limited charging infrastructure, and a general lack of awareness,” Samkit Shah, cofounder of Jitendra EV, told Inc42.

He added that the penetration of EVs in rural areas has been impacted due to unreliable electricity supply, inadequate government support, and a scarcity of maintenance services.

Economic constraints further add to the difficulty. The high upfront cost of four-wheeler EVs poses a significant challenge in rural communities, where average incomes tend to be lower than in urban areas.

Although schemes like the Faster Adoption and........

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