The EV category surge in Tiruchy is being driven largely by two-wheelers, which account for the bulk of electric registrations, say dealers. “Electric scooters have eaten into petrol two-wheeler sales,” remarked T Vetrivel, sales manager with a domestic electric two-wheeler brand. “Our monthly bookings have gone up from about 25 units to nearly 45 in Tiruchy. For daily commuters, lower running costs make EVs an easy choice,” he said, adding that the state government’s decision to extend tax exemptions for EVs till 2027 is expected to accelerate adoption.
Infrastructure gaps for the vehicle category, however, remain a concern. “There are only around 20 public charging stations in the city,” said T Manish Rajan, sales manager with another EV two-wheeler brand. “Sales have almost doubled compared to last year but charging infrastructure needs to expand rapidly to sustain this growth,” he added. Traffic activist M Raj Kumar echoed the concern.
“The rise in EV adoption is encouraging but infrastructure and public awareness must grow alongside sales. There is still uncertainty among buyers regarding long-term resale value and battery life,” he said.
Break-up of sales in Tiruchy by powertrain category
Year Petrol Diesel Electric CNG/Hybrid Total
2023 28,502 2,951 1,711 484 33,648
2024 29,198 2,902 2,068 607 34,775
2025 29,298 3,497 3,978 772 37,545
