Three-Wheeler EV Adoption Surges in Tamil Nadu: 2,802 Registered Till May 2025, EV Penetration Rises to 16.07% from 13.92% in 2024
Tamil Nadu is witnessing a steady rise in the adoption of electric three-wheelers, with 2025 already surpassing last year’s sales figures. According to data from the Vahan portal, 2,802 electric three-wheelers were registered in the state between January and May 2025. This pushed EV penetration in this segment to 16.07%, up from 13.92% for the entire year of 2024.
Growth Across Passenger and Cargo Segments
“In Tamil Nadu, we’ve seen a consistent rise in EV penetration. Passenger auto rickshaws have grown from around 4% in 2023 to over 8% in 2025, while the cargo three-wheeler segment now exceeds 27% penetration,” said Roy Kurian, Business Head – Last-Mile Mobility, Montra Electric (Murugappa Group).
Kurian attributed the growth to state-level incentives, including road tax exemptions and registration fee waivers, as well as the availability of more reliable EV models. He noted that Tamil Nadu is also leveraging EVs for public services such as e-carts for waste management and that last-mile EV solutions would further benefit from the state’s investments in public transport projects like Metro Rail.
Demand Expands Beyond Major Cities
Montra Electric reports rising demand not just in Chennai, but also in Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Tiruchi, and Kanniyakumari. Smaller towns, where shorter travel distances make EVs practical, are seeing faster adoption, particularly among users who can charge vehicles at home.
In the cargo segment, logistics and e-commerce companies are driving demand as they move to reduce costs and emissions. These companies often find it easier to establish dedicated charging and service infrastructure to support their fleets.
Barriers and the Way Forward
While the growth is promising, Kurian emphasized the need for greater collaboration between industry and government. Key actions include discouraging new ICE three-wheeler purchases, actively promoting EV alternatives, and allocating space for charging stations in high-demand areas.
Industry voices echoed the importance of cost economics. Ragavendra Ravichandran, COO, Plugzmart, highlighted that rising fuel costs and the lower operating expenses of EVs are key motivators for drivers.
However, Tamil Nadu still lags behind the national average for three-wheeler EV penetration, which stands at 45.27%, according to K.P. Karthikeyan, CEO, Zeon Electric. “With the state focusing on improving charging infrastructure, we can expect these numbers to climb,” he said.Sriram J, Senior Manager – Charging Infrastructure at Bolt.Earth, added that an increase in product variety and growing driver confidence are also encouraging more three-wheeler EV purchases.
