Meeting national and state EV targets could cut India’s transport emissions by 50%: ICCT

ICCT report pointed out that nearly 80% of EVs sold in India are domestically manufactured, placing the country alongside the European Union and Japan in meeting EV demand.

Mumbai: Achieving India’s existing national and state-level electric vehicle (EV) targets could reduce road transport CO2-equivalent emissions 50% by 2050, according to a new global analysis by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT).

The findings are part of the fourth edition of Vision 2050, ICCT’s annual assessment of the global transition to zero-emission vehicles, which models the impact of current and proposed policies on vehicle sales, energy use, and emissions through 2050.

“India’s EV transition is not just a climate opportunity; it is an economic one. Nearly 80% domestic manufacturing shows that India already has the foundation to build its clean transport future at home,” said Amit Bhatt, India Managing Director, ICCT.

“With strong supply-side regulations such as fuel-efficiency norms and zero-emission vehicle targets, this localisation potential can scale rapidly, strengthening domestic value chains, creating jobs, and delivering one of the world’s largest reductions in transport emissions,” he added. 

“With a strong domestic EV manufacturing base and a growing suite of fuel-efficiency standards, zero-emission targets, and state EV policies, India is well-positioned to accelerate its EV transition while delivering substantial climate and air-quality benefits,” added Arijit Sen, Senior Researcher, ICCT.

The report pointed out that nearly 80% of EVs sold in India are domestically manufactured, placing the country alongside the European Union and Japan in meeting EV demand largely through local production rather than imports.

India is among the few emerging economies with long-term zero-emission ambitions for heavy-duty vehicles, positioning freight electrification as a key source of future emissions reductions.

Given the size of its transport sector, India stands out as one of the markets where EV adoption could deliver the largest absolute reductions in road transport emissions globally.