Nearly half of Indian two-wheeler buyers eye EVs: BCG report

New Delhi: Around 43 per cent of two-wheeler buyers surveyed are actively considering an electric vehicle, up from 30 per cent in 2024, while outright rejection has dropped from 38 per cent to 29 per cent, according to a BCG report released on Monday.

The third edition of Boston Consulting Group's (BCG) report is based on a survey of 1,600 two-wheeler owners and intending buyers across metro and non-metro India (45 per cent metro and Tier 1, 55 per cent Tier 2 and beyond), conducted in 2026 by BCG's Center for Customer Insight and compared with its 2024 survey, along with Vahan and SIAM sales data till August 2026.

"E2W adoption has nearly doubled in the last two years and is poised for further growth. Nearly 1 in 2 consumers are actively considering an E2W for their next two-wheeler purchase, while outright rejection has declined significantly from 38 per cent to 29 per cent," the report said.


Electric two-wheelers now account for 9.9 per cent of total two-wheeler sales in FY27 so far (April-August 2026) compared to 5.5 per cent in FY24. Among scooters, electric penetration has increased from 16.8 per cent to 24.1 per cent.

"Every month, about 1.8 lakh Indians are buying their first electric two-wheeler. Nearly 1 in 4 scooters sold in the country today are electric, and almost half of all two-wheeler buyers are now actively considering going electric, up from fewer than one in three just two years ago," a statement said.

Over the longer term, electric scooters have grown at a 54 per cent CAGR between FY22 and FY26, more than three times faster than petrol scooters.

This growth has held through policy shifts, including the transition away from FAME and the GST reforms.

The research finds that consumers feel E2Ws are delivering most parameters that riders desire.

Owners rate them well on low running and maintenance costs, comfort, aesthetics, manoeuvrability, storage and digital features. The remaining gaps are rough-road capability, city-to-highway capability, and longevity. Concerns about longevity arise as most E2Ws have not been owned long enough for consumers to judge how they compare with petrol two-wheelers.

"The electric two-wheeler is no longer an experiment for early adopters. It is now a default consideration for a growing share of Indian buyers. India's riders have very different needs, from delivery riders who want speed and agility to young riders in smaller towns who want a reliable, good-looking ride.

"Electric is meeting more of those needs every year, and nearly one in two buyers now considers it for their next purchase," said Natarajan Sankar, Managing Director and Senior Partner, BCG.