EV registrations jump 29% in Capital, petrol vehicles still dominate: Analysis

NEW DELHI: The national capital saw a 29 per cent rise in electric vehicle registrations in 2025–26 compared to the previous year, while petrol vehicle registrations continued to grow, data analysed by Envirocatalysts has showed.

Experts say the new electric vehicle (EV) policy and recent trends point to a further increase in EV purchases in the coming years.

An analysis of data from the Vahan dashboard of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways by EnviroCatalysts, an independent research body, showed that EV registrations rose from 83,512 in 2024–25 to 1.07 lakh in 2025–26. EV hybrid vehicles also recorded an increase, rising from 6,796 to 8,476 during the same period.

At the same time, conventional fuel segments continued to expand. Petrol and petrol-ethanol vehicles increased from around 5.30 lakh in 2024–25 to about 6.21 lakh in 2025–26, indicating that even as cleaner technologies gain ground, polluting fuel-based vehicles still account for a significant share of total registrations.

Among other segments, CNG vehicle registrations rose from 25,330 to 32,224, reflecting a continued shift towards relatively cleaner fossil fuel options. In contrast, diesel vehicles declined from 12,007 to 11,498, marking one of their lowest levels since 2019.

Fossil hybrid vehicles recorded the sharpest growth, more than doubling from 15,804 to 32,902, even as they remain dependent on conventional fuels.

Meanwhile, petrol-CNG vehicles declined from 47,192 to 36,130, while vehicles under the ‘other fuels’ category saw only a marginal increase from 20 to 23.

Looking at broader trends, experts said petrol and petrol-ethanol vehicle growth could moderate in the coming years as policy push and consumer preference increasingly favour electric mobility.

Sunil Dahiya of Envirocatalysts said that diesel registrations declined while petrol registrations remained largely consistent with the previous year, indicating that although electric vehicle adoption has grown significantly, it has not yet substantially reduced the share of petrol and CNG vehicles in overall registrations.

EV growth remains strong but has not dented petrol and CNG volumes; new policy incentives, scrappage benefits and tax exemptions aim to boost adoption, while overall registrations rise and conventional fuels

continue to dominate.