Maharashtra aims to lead the EV charge! Confidence boosted as India ramps up production and trade

The Maharashtra government has unveiled an ambitious plan to make electric vehicles (EVs) account for 30 per cent of all vehicle registrations in the state by 2030. The announcement was made by Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who emphasised the need for sustainable mobility solutions amid growing urban congestion and rising fuel costs. The state’s vision has been formalised in the Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Policy 2025, which introduces a series of financial and structural incentives to accelerate EV adoption across sectors.

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To encourage early adoption, the policy offers a range of benefits, including road tax and registration fee exemptions, interest-free loans, and direct purchase subsidies.

In fact, the country’s first 45-horsepower electric tractor was recently registered at the Thane Regional Transport Office (RTO). According to officials, this tractor can cut per-acre fuel costs from INR 1,200 to INR 1,500 to just INR 300. The state also facilitates EV financing through schemes like the Annasaheb Patil Arthik Vikas Mahamandal.

Beyond electrification, Maharashtra is taking steps to address one of the biggest urban challenges, i.e. parking, which is particularly critical for Mumbai and Pune. A comprehensive, state-wide parking policy is currently under development and expected to be implemented by next year.

Additional policy highlights include a five-year toll exemption for EVs on major expressways such as the Mumbai–Pune and Mumbai–Nagpur routes. There are plans to expand this waiver across all state highways. Maharashtra also aims to install EV charging stations every 25 kilometres along highways, and integrate charging points in housing complexes, public parking zones, and commercial establishments. The policy’s targets are segmented for different vehicle classes: 40 per cent of new two- and three-wheelers, 30 per cent of four-wheelers, 50 per cent of aggregator cabs (like Uber and Ola), and 15 per cent of private buses must be electric by 2030.