The state has witnessed a remarkable increase in electric vehicle (EV) registrations, with approximately 1.49 lakh registered between 2016 and 2024, commerce and transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena recently informed the assembly.

Responding to a query from MLA Upasana Mohapatra, the minister said that the govt's 2021 EV Policy played a crucial role in driving the growth. "The policy offers attractive incentives, including complete road tax waivers for EV users, making the transition to electric vehicles more accessible and economically viable,"

The data shows a compelling trend in EV adoption across different vehicle categories. Two-wheelers dominate the market with 1.30 lakh registrations, followed by 14,130 three-wheelers. The four-wheeler segment recorded 269 registrations, while heavy vehicles, including buses and trucks, accounted for 4,840 units. The year-on-year growth was particularly noteworthy in the two-wheeler segment, with registrations skyrocketing from a mere 185 vehicles in 2016 to 56,303 in 2024. Three-wheeler EVs showed similar momentum, starting with just seven registrations in 2016 and reaching an all-time high of 6,218 in 2024.

Responding to MLA Tankadhar Tripathy's query, Jena announced the establishment of 100 charging stations across the state. The distribution includes 21 stations in Bhubaneswar, 38 at RTO offices, 23 at truck terminals and 18 at other locations.

Experts said the rapid growth in EV adoption aligns with global efforts to address environmental concerns and reduce dependency on conventional fuels. "The state's comprehensive approach, combining policy support with infrastructure development, is indeed playing a crucial role in the sustainable mobility solutions," environmentalist Sailabala Padhi said.

A senior transport department official said that the implementation of the EV policy and the continuous expansion of charging infrastructure suggest that the state is well-positioned to lead the electric mobility revolution. "People are more aware these days about global warming and other environmental concerns. Adoption of EVs is contributing significantly to environmental conservation while meeting the growing transportation needs of the citizens," he said.