Kerala's EV revolution
Solar energy is the fuel of the future. The world envisions a 'solar future' where fossil fuels, including petrol and diesel, will go redundant. Nedumbassery International Airport is an exemplar of the solar dream. This airport has been operating entirely on solar energy for years. Homes, industries, and large enterprises, including airports, are switching to solar power, but it is less palpable in our automobile sector. That dream will be fully realised only when solar buses and heavy vehicles powered by solar batteries become widespread. However, the widespread use of electric two-wheelers and electric cars should be considered the first step towards abandoning fossil fuels.
The figures that show the speed at which Kerala is shifting towards electric vehicles were published by 'Kerala Kaumudi' the other day. According to the figures, from January to November 2025 alone, 95,899 e-vehicles were registered in the state, which is 12,631 more than in 2024. There was a 15 per cent jump in electric vehicle sales in the state in a single year. To understand the rapid spread of e-vehicles, take the simple fact that one in eight registered vehicles is electric. The abundance of vehicles with green number plates on the roads itself speaks volumes about the rapidly growing trend in the automobile sector. Although most vehicle owners are switching to e-vehicles to avoid emptying their pockets buying petrol and diesel, the great advantage of being pollution-free is less talked about.
The heavy presence of carbon in the smoke emitted by vehicles is a major factor contributing to air pollution. Kerala's full support for India's green goal of "zero carbon" by 2050 is behind the "e-vehicle revolution" on the road. If low mileage was a problem in the early days of e-vehicles, that complaint can be considered to have been resolved to a large extent with the advent of high-capacity batteries. Not only is the use of e-vehicles profitable compared to the cost of using fossil fuels, but the fact that they require less maintenance also increases the profit potential for users.
One of the current complaints raised by users of electric two-wheelers and electric cars is the lack of charging stations. There are about 800 fast charging stations for charging cars in the state. Of these, only 63 are directly operated by KSEB. There are only about 1200 charging points attached to electricity posts and other places. Although people can charge vehicles from home and set off on a journey, long-distance travellers will have to rely on charging stations en route. The battery running out in places with no charging facility will be a nightmare for passengers. The solution is to install more fast charging stations owned by KSEB on national highways and other major roads. The electricity board should show high spirits in this electric vehicle revolution.