This Indian City Wants 50 % EVs On Its Roads Within 5 Years

Surat, a city more often associated with gems, textiles, and relentless commerce, is now setting its sights on becoming a national leader in electric mobility. The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has launched a new Green Vehicle Policy 2025 that aims to make 50% of all new vehicles sold in the city electric by the year 2030. For a city where movement and trade never stop, such a shift is not only bold but also necessary.

This updated policy builds upon Surat’s earlier EV framework from 2021, but now goes further by incorporating alternative fuels such as hydrogen and biofuels. The five-year roadmap aims to push not just adoption, but also to build a self-sustaining ecosystem for cleaner transport. While India’s national targets suggest 30% EV penetration in private vehicles by 2030, Surat is attempting to move faster, setting a more aggressive benchmark that other urban centres may soon look to emulate.

Charging Stations and Subsidies Form the Backbone of the Rollout

A key focus of the new policy is accessibility, making electric vehicles a practical choice for a broad range of users. To support this, Surat plans to install more than 460 charging stations across its 462-square-kilometre area, effectively aiming for one charging point per square kilometre. These will primarily be set up through public-private partnerships, a model that distributes investment and risk while enabling faster execution.

The SMC is also rolling out direct financial incentives to drive adoption. Pink e-autos operated by women, commercial three-wheelers, and light commercial EVs will all be eligible for subsidies. There’s a full vehicle tax waiver for the first year, followed by gradual tapering, to make initial ownership attractive. The first few thousand adopters of electric goods vehicles and e-rickshaws will benefit from additional financial assistance.

Larger organisations looking to electrify their fleets stand to gain “green certification” from the government, with added perks such as free parking and discounted travel cards. By targeting both individual buyers and fleet operators, the city hopes to generate volume and visibility for electric vehicles quickly.

Creating a Local EV Industry from the Ground Up

Beyond just encouraging people to buy EVs, Surat’s plan also attempts to stimulate local manufacturing. The policy encourages the setup of EV and battery manufacturing units within the city limits, hoping to create jobs and local supply chains. There are also clear guidelines for battery recycling, addressing long-term environmental concerns tied to EV growth.

To support citizens in this transition, the SMC is introducing a “One EV App” that will connect users to services like nearby charging stations, repair centres, and subsidies. A centralised web portal will also offer all related information, creating transparency and ease of access. An annual EV expo is being planned to showcase new technologies, highlighting the city’s growing interest in home-grown innovation and engineering.

A dedicated green vehicle cell

What sets Surat’s policy apart from many others is its governance model. A dedicated Green Vehicle Cell will bring together multiple stakeholders [including government officials, electricity boards, traffic police, transport departments, industry bodies, and independent experts] to ensure that implementation is monitored and adjusted in real time. This collaborative model is expected to resolve early teething issues and ensure that policy does not remain stuck on paper.

The city’s approach directly ties into India’s larger goals of reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality in urban centres. Surat, which has in the past struggled with pollution from rapid industrialisation and urban growth, is hoping to reverse that trend with proactive policymaking.

It's going to be challenging

While the targets are ambitious, they also come with a fair share of challenges. Building a charging network is only the beginning, keeping it reliable and expanding it in pace with adoption will be critical. Similarly, while subsidies can spark initial demand, sustained growth will require availability of affordable and reliable electric vehicles suited to local needs.

The aftermarket ecosystem, mechanics, battery servicing, software upgrades, will also need to evolve. Surat’s hope of building an industrial base around EVs will depend on the success of supply chain localisation, training initiatives, and capital investment.