India's electric vehicle (EV) market is entering a dynamic new phase, characterized by a significant shift in consumer preferences, particularly outside major metropolitan areas. According to recent consumer insights published by automotive platform CarDekho, searches exclusively for electric cars on its platform soared by 60% between May 2025 and May 2026.
This surge in interest contrasts sharply with a 14% decline in searches for traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles during the same period, indicating a clear trajectory towards electric mobility among Indian buyers.
Tier-2 Cities Emerge as Key Growth Engines for India EV Growth
The report highlights that the momentum for EV adoption is strongest in India's Tier-2 and smaller cities, where research activity for electric vehicles is expanding nearly three times faster than in Tier-1 cities. This geographical spread suggests that the EV trend is becoming more widespread and less concentrated in traditional urban hubs.
Notable cities leading this growth include Bhubaneswar, which recorded an 84% year-on-year increase in EV research. Gurugram followed with a 75% rise, and Jaipur saw a 72% jump. Other cities like Agra, Patna, and Ludhiana also registered over 50% growth in EV-related searches, despite many of these markets still developing their charging infrastructure.
SUVs Dominate EV Consideration, Running Costs Influence Decisions
CarDekho's data also reveals evolving preferences in vehicle types, with electric SUVs accounting for a commanding 82.5% of total EV consideration on the platform. Electric hatchbacks, by comparison, represented around 11% of searches. This trend aligns with automakers' increasing focus on launching premium electric SUVs, which offer more space, features, and performance, meeting growing consumer demand.
Beyond initial interest, the economics of ownership are playing a crucial role. Searches related to EV mileage calculations saw a dramatic 242% increase in May 2026. This indicates that prospective buyers are increasingly focused on evaluating the long-term running costs and overall ownership economics of electric vehicles, moving beyond initial curiosity about new technology.
Fuel Prices Boost Structural Interest in Electric Vehicles
The impact of fluctuating fuel prices on EV purchase intent is also evident. CarDekho's findings show that periods of elevated fuel prices significantly boosted enquiries related to buying electric vehicles by 51%. Even after fuel prices stabilized, interest remained 38% above normal levels, suggesting that the appeal of EVs is becoming a more structural, long-term shift rather than a cyclical response to fuel cost spikes.
These insights come as India's broader EV ecosystem continues to expand, with new model launches, a growing charging network, and evolving government support for electric mobility. While the data reflects online consumer behavior, it points to a broadening and diversifying consideration for EVs across India, increasingly driven by practical ownership costs.