Where are India’s electric tractors?

About this event

Did you know that agricultural tractors consume about 2.6% of India’s diesel? Even though the tractor industry reported an 8% annual growth in domestic sales in FY 24-25, only 16 out of 8 Lakh agriculture tractors registered in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India s Vahan portal are classified as electric.

Electric tractors, with zero tailpipe emissions, offer a multifaceted opportunity to support India’s green growth by mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, reducing crude oil imports, and expanding exports. ICCT research from 2016 found that emissions such as particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides from off-road vehicles (including tractors) could exceed those from on-road vehicles by 2030.

They also have the potential to reduce farming costs and improve farmer health by reducing noise, vibrations, and exposure to diesel fumes. According to some, e-tractors can also do the same stationary task as diesel tractors in less time with instant torque delivery and better precision and control. Four state governments in India offer incentives for electric tractors as a part of their EV policies, but there is negligible utilization as of May 2025.

So, where are the electric tractors in India? Who is making them? Are they ready to serve India’s agricultural demands?

In partnership with ET Auto, we will discuss the policy experience of e-tractor incentives, the technology and market readiness of India’s electric tractors, and knowledge gaps in the electric tractor policy discourse in India.