Personal EVs alone can't fix India's urban transport: experts

India's love affair with the car is going electric, but that alone won't untangle the country's urban transport mess, according to experts. A recent analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) argues that focusing on personal EVs is a dead end for Indian cities.

The report, released on September 4, 2026, says that while EVs cut tailpipe emissions, they don't solve congestion, road safety, or the sheer space cars consume. "Personal EVs alone cannot solve India's urban transport problems," the authors write. They point out that even if every car on Delhi's roads were electric, gridlock would remain, and the city would still choke on particulate matter from tyre and brake wear.

Instead, the report calls for a fundamental rethink: invest in public transport, walking, and cycling. It urges cities to set clear targets for shifting trips from private cars to buses, metro, and non-motorised modes. "The real solution is to move people, not vehicles," says one of the authors.

India's EV push has largely centred on two-wheelers and cars. The government's Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme has subsidised millions of vehicles, but most have been private ones. Meanwhile, public bus fleets remain woefully inadequate. Delhi, for instance, has around 7,000 buses for a population of 20 million, far below the recommended 60,000.

The report also highlights the unequal impact of car-centric planning. Poorer residents, who rely on walking, cycling, or buses, bear the brunt of air pollution and traffic danger. "We are building cities for the rich who drive, while the poor breathe the fumes," the report notes.

Some states are experimenting with alternatives. Kerala has launched a water metro in Kochi, and Bengaluru is expanding its suburban rail network. But these efforts are piecemeal. The report argues for a national urban mobility policy that prioritises public transport and compact, walkable neighbourhoods.

Electric buses, the report says, are a bright spot. India has ordered over 5,000 e-buses under the second phase of FAME, and cities like Mumbai and Hyderabad are adding more. But the pace is too slow. "We need a massive scale-up, not a pilot project here and there," the authors warn.

The report comes as India prepares to host the next UN climate summit in 2028. With transport accounting for about 14% of India's energy-related CO2 emissions, the pressure is on to decarbonise. But the CSE argues that the answer is not simply swapping petrol for batteries. It's about changing how Indians move.

"Electric vehicles are necessary, but not sufficient," the report concludes. "If we just electrify the existing car-centric model, we'll end up with electric congestion and electric pollution."