When it comes to the use of electric vehicles (EVs), especially electric rickshaws, Lucknow has become the leader in Uttar Pradesh. Sales of electric vehicles in the city have increased dramatically over the past four years, from a meager 56 units in 2020 to an astounding 3,572 units in 2024. This is a 6,000% growth.
Uttar Pradesh: Sales of EVs
With significant growth in the EV sector, the entire state of Uttar Pradesh now accounts for 18% of the country’s EV sales. Based on information provided by ride-hailing company Uber India, electric vehicles made up more than 92% of all vehicles in Uttar Pradesh in 2024—a considerable increase from the 77 percent that was registered the year before. 3,572 electric cars were sold in Lucknow alone.
Cities such as Agra and Kanpur, however, have also made great strides. From 3.2 percent of all sales in Kanpur in 2020 to over 88 percent in 2024, EV auto sales increased dramatically. In 2020, Agra had zero electric vehicles; by 2024, it had 1,811 EV vehicles, compared to only 128 CNG vehicles. “More than 60% of our new supply comes from EV autos over CNG,” an Uber official stated.
EV Car Sales in Uttar Pradesh: Important Factors
The fact that driving an EV has significant financial advantages over driving a regular CNG vehicle—with operating costs more than 70% lower—is one of the main factors contributing to the state’s EV auto boom. The drivers are being encouraged to switch from leasing to buying their cars because of this huge cost savings.
This trend is accelerated by the state’s progressive permit-free policy for electric vehicles, which allows drivers to optimize their savings and income. Other than that, the monthly maintenance costs of CNG cars are approximately Rs 1,000, while EV cars have very little maintenance expenditures other than the sporadic significant repairs such as changing tires.
