It's hard to tell at first glance, but batteries are located beneath
Vinod Sain's seat — his electric rickshaw is a real
treasure for him.
"I'm cleaning my electric rickshaw.
This is like Goddess Lakshmi for me, as it helps me earn a living.
It's my duty to take care of it daily."
More and more rickshaw drivers are choosing to do without
dirty diesel, as India's population is growing rapidly,
especially in the cities.
Experts estimate that traffic alone could double by 2050
and with it, exhaust fumes.
There are still millions of diesel-powered
two-wheelers on India's roads.
Still, the market for electric vehicles in India is booming.
While almost 730,000 electric two-wheelers were sold in
the last fiscal year, the figure was little more than
250,000 a year earlier.
Experts say there are several reasons for this.
"I would attribute three major reasons for this growth in India.
To begin with, it's India's climate pledges and the
government policies that have led to this transition from ICE to
electric vehicles broadly.
The second reason if I were to attribute is economics.
And the third is the startups in India, which really started making
these electric vehicles, being interested in getting into manufacturing
electric vehicles, that really led to the start, I would say, in a certain sense."
And in many cases, the model is simple. Instead of
large battery blocks, it's usually these small ones that
have a shorter lifespan, but are affordable to drivers
like Ashok Chauhan.
"It costs less and has so many advantages compared
to a normal rickshaw.
I can save up to 1,000 rupees a day."
He's visiting a business where he hopes to buy a new electric rickshaw.
But he's still undecided.
The Indian government has invested heavily in electromobility and
supports both customers and dealers.
"A vehicle like this used to cost almost 3,000 US dollars.
But thanks to the government subsidy, it now only costs the customer half
as much, and therefore far less than a gasoline-powered car."
It's a whole new driving experience for customers.
"These electric rickshaws are really useful and available everywhere.
They don't use gasoline, so we don't have any exhaust fumes.
I often use them to take my children to school,
or to go to the vegetable market and visit my brother.
What's more, the service is cheap."
"It's also easier to get in and out of an electric rickshaw.
Getting in is very comfortable."
Ashok Chauhan gets to take a test drive today.
"I've been driving an electric vehicle for three years.
I only commute with my electric rickshaw.
It doesn't pollute the environment, it doesn't emit as much exhaust fumes
as gasoline and diesel vehicles."
He now wants to buy a new electric rickshaw.
This business now sells 200 vehicles a month and the boss
wants to hire new workers.
"We've been in business for 10 years and have good annual growth.
But in the last two years post Covid, this industry has seen
phenomenal growth.
People's mindset is changing in favor of electric mobility and I see
huge success in the future as well."
Hundreds of companies in India are doing the same.
As a result, more and more people are becoming
self-employed, like Vinod Sain as an electric rickshaw cab driver,
and the environment becomes less polluted.