Fuel fears drive surge in EV queries in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, triggering fears of fuel shortage, residents across Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are showing renewed urgency in exploring alternative mobility choices like electric vehicles (EVs).Dealerships in the twin cities have reported a sharp rise, almost double, in EV enquiries over the past few days, marking one of the most sudden spikes since the Covid-19 pandemic-era fuel price surge.“Odisha appears to be undergoing a slow but decisive transformation in mobility choice, driven by uncertainty around petrol and diesel supply, rising running costs and growing confidence in EV technology,” Sarthak Mohapatra, an industry analyst, said.

Showrooms across the twin cities have been witnessing a steady stream of walk-ins in the last few days, many of them first-time buyers reconsidering earlier decisions to opt for petrol or diesel models.“I was planning to buy a 125cc petrol scooter this month, but the talks about fuel shortage made me rethink. The running cost of EVs is already tempting. Now, the fear of disruption is pushing me towards making the switch,” Vimal Hota, a first-time EV buyer, said.

For others, the crisis served as the final call after months of deliberation. “I commute nearly 30km every day. Even a slight rise or shortage in petrol affects my monthly budget,” said Rashmita Parida, a schoolteacher from Pathargadia.Dealers said buyers are asking more questions, comparing models more seriously and booking test rides. “We saw the number of enquiries almost double in the last three days,” said Ankit Sahu, sales manager at an EV dealership near Chandrasekharpur.Another dealer in Cuttack echoed similar experiences. “The surge is real. Customers are mostly worried about running costs and future supply uncertainty,” said Prakash Behera, who manages a multi-brand EV bike outlet in Cuttack.According to official data, 2.19 lakh EVs were registered in Odisha as of Dec 2025, marking consistent growth year on year. While the numbers are significant, experts say Odisha’s transition is not about EV dominance but about diversification.The state govt itself is moving in the same direction. Different departments and agencies already inducted 680 battery-operated vehicles into their fleets, indicating that official mobility is no longer tied solely to fossil fuels.The ripple effects of the West Asia conflict are being felt across India, and Odisha is no exception. Even though no formal shortage was announced, apprehension among consumers is high.“This is the first time we saw fear-driven EV enquiries on this scale. If fuel supply gets disrupted even slightly, we expect EV bookings to rise further,” said Jitendra Mohanty, a senior representative of a four-wheeler dealership in Bhubaneswar.For many residents, the shift feels both urgent and inevitable. “Fuel prices are often hiked, but now it feels like the whole supply chain is fragile,” said Abhimanyu Swain, a software engineer who is planning to buy an e-car.