Government Policies Supporting the Distribution and Charging of Li-ion Batteries to Spur Growth of the Indian eRickshaw Market, 2025

FAME II Scheme and the Focus on Increasing Public Charging Stations to Present New Growth Opportunities

The evolving eRickshaw market in India is expected to witness increasing changes in the next 5 years driven by a myriad of factors. The country’s urban mobility modal is largely dominated by two and three wheelers (2Ws & 3Ws) , which account for close to a 50% share. With the advent of more public transport initiatives, the modal share of last-mile modes like 3Ws is likely to rise in key urban centers. Urbanization, increasing levels of pollution, climate change challenges, growth in new mobility solutions such as ride sharing services, and the emergence of innovative last-mile solutions have propelled a shift from internal combustion engine (ICE) driven vehicles to eRickshaws. In addition, electrification in India is likely to be driven by government incentives; growing need for clean, shared and public transportation; and the lower operational cost of electric vehicles (EVs). The Government of India (GOI) has initiated regulatory measures to drive this transformation to electric solutions in the 3W segment. This has prompted OEMs to look at innovative solutions within this space.

The eRickshaw market faces various challenges. Inadequate charging infrastructure, coupled with frequent charging issues, high battery replacement costs, poor build quality, and moderate battery life are some of the primary concerns that need to be addressed. For instance, the market is suffering from range anxiety issue where a concern persists whether the vehicle would have sufficient range to reach its destination. Various stakeholders in the ecosystem are working towards addressing major issues with a focus on 2030.

This eRickshaw study largely focuses on the electric 3-wheeler (e3W) market in terms of tracking its evolution, identifying opportunities, and understanding the future growth potential from an Indian context. It highlights trends and drivers that are making a case for e3Ws in the country. It also identifies current pain points associated with the adoption of eRickshaws, the significant impact of FAME II policy on the segment, and how various state governments have initiated regulations to embrace e3W solutions. Further, the study deep dives by providing insights on vehicle charging and financial solutions, and elaborates on how various players within this segment are positioning and pricing their products and solutions. Lastly, the study also analyzes consumer needs and how OEMs in the market are bridging the gap to address customer requirements.

The publisher expects the market for eRickshaws to reach close to a million units by FY25 owing to a revival of public transportation and tourism, demand from tier 1 & 2 cities, growing replacement demand, and an increase in penetration of vehicle financing. These will go a long way in shaping the future of eRickshaws in the country such that the market has the potential to be fully electrified by 2030.