An Electric Vehicle (EV) is a vehicle concept defined as one propelled mostly by an electric motor that draws power from a traction battery pack, which is charged from an external source. The concept is not a new invention; the first crude electric vehicle was developed by British inventor Robert Anderson around 1832. The first production electric car was built by Thomas Parker in 1884. EVs gained popularity in the early 1900s because they were quieter and easier to start than early gasoline cars, which required a difficult hand-crank.
An EV works by using the traction battery pack, typically a lithium-ion type, to store electrical energy. This energy is managed by a power electronics controller and supplied to the electric traction motor, which drives the wheels. When charging, the onboard charger converts the incoming Alternating Current (AC) from the grid into Direct Current (DC) to replenish the battery.
In India, the EV concept is strongly connected to the government's National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020, launched in 2013, which aims to achieve national fuel security. The primary mechanism for promotion is the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME India) scheme, launched in 2015 under the NEMMP. FAME India Phase I ran from April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2019. The scheme was replaced by FAME II in April 2019 with an outlay of ₹10,000 Crore, which provides financial incentives to buyers and supports charging infrastructure development. A key recent change was the reduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on EVs from 12% to 5% in 2019 to make them more affordable. Furthermore, the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2026, notified on June 30, 2026, introduced mandates for new registrations of three-wheelers and two-wheelers starting from January 2027 and April 2028, respectively.