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After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh

According to the RLA Chandigarh, electric four-wheeler registrations in 2021 and 2022 were 123 and 254 respectively, and increased significantly to 1,013 in 2023. Electric vehicle (EV) four-wheelers registrations — which were 1,326 in 2024 — rose to tad 1,348 this year, which is about to conclude.

3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Dec 2, 2025 09:22 AM IST

According to the RLA Chandigarh, electric four-wheeler registrations in 2021 and 2022 were 123 and 254 respectively, and increased significantly to 1,013 in 2023.

After seeing a fivefold jump in 2023, electric vehicles sales in Chandigarh are growing at a snail’s pace in the last few years, suggests the data by the Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA).

According to the RLA Chandigarh, electric four-wheeler registrations in 2021 and 2022 were 123 and 254 respectively, and increased significantly to 1,013 in 2023. Electric vehicle (EV) four-wheelers registrations — which were 1,326 in 2024 — rose to tad 1,348 this year, which is about to conclude.

The electric two-wheelers’ sales, after recording substantial growth in 2022 and 2023, is continuing going downhill with 1,404 EVs registered so far in 2025 as compared to 1,752 in 2024. Registrations after picking up massively from 122 in 2021 to 752 in 2022, took another stride in 2023 with 2,103 registrations, However, significant decline began in 2024 when only 1,752 such vehicles got registered.

Incentives increased three months ago

This year again in the review meeting of the EV policy for Chandigarh, the administration increased a slew of incentives three months ago. For four-wheelers (personal), the cap on the number of electric four-wheelers eligible for incentives under the policy has been increased from 2,000 to 3,500 units, due to rising public interest.

Also, there is insurance support for electric two-wheelers, with buyers eligible for assistance of up to Rs 5,000 for the first year, helping to reduce the upfront cost of ownership.

The incentive for electric two-wheelers was also revised from Rs 5,000/kWh to Rs 10,000/kWh, subject to a maximum of Rs 30,000 per vehicle.

Special incentives for women buyers

To promote greater participation of women in EV adoption, women buyers of electric two-wheelers have been given an enhanced subsidy of Rs 12,500/kWh, capped at Rs 37,500 per vehicle.

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Also, to encourage non-motorised, sustainable mobility, the incentive for electric bicycles has been increased from 25 per cent of the cost up to Rs 4,000 to 25 per cent of the cost up to Rs 6,000.

Seeing an increase in purchases, the UT Administration has also decided to expand the EV charging station network across all areas of Chandigarh, ensuring comprehensive coverage across Chandigarh.

The Chandigarh Administration has till date established only 35 charging stations even as it claimed to set up 100 as soon as possible. On the day of the announcement of the Electric vehicle policy in 2022, the UT had promised to set up 100 public charging stations but nothing was done in this regard.

Eleven battery swapping stations have been set up for commercial EVs.

For those who intend to charge at the charging stations, Rs 8 per unit are charged for slow or moderate charging, Rs 10 per unit for fast charging and Rs 11 for battery swapping.

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Chandigarh in September 2022 had announced the electric vehicle policy, but it failed to work on the required infrastructure. The UT Administration had even begun to restrict the registration of fuel-based vehicles after achieving the “set targets” in the said year. However, after protests by automobile traders and residents, the Chandigarh administrator in November last year had to stall the target-based registrations of EVs.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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