Assessment of Electric Two-Wheelers: A Narrative Review of Technological Trends, Market Growth, and Policy Drivers Associated with Environmental Concerns

Abstract

The transition to sustainable mobility is gaining global momentum, with electric two-wheelers (E2Ws) emerging as a crucial segment in reducing emissions, fuel dependency, and urban congestion—particularly in developing countries where two-wheelers dominate personal transportation. This narrative review critically evaluates the sustainability of E2Ws by synthesizing global trends in technology, environmental performance, market adoption, and policy frameworks. Emphasis is placed on the evolution of battery systems, especially lithium-ion chemistries, energy recovery mechanisms, and charging infrastructure developments. The review also examines economic feasibility, manufacturing capacities, and life cycle environmental impacts, with data drawn from key markets including India, China, Europe, and North America. While E2Ws offer significant benefits such as lower emissions and reduced noise pollution, but challenges persist in the form of battery cost, thermal safety, limited infrastructure, and consumer perception. Policy measures including fiscal incentives, localization mandates, and public-private partnerships are analyzed for their role in accelerating adoption. The paper concludes by identifying technological and policy innovations necessary for realizing a scalable, circular, and inclusive E2W ecosystem, and provides recommendations to guide future investment to safeguard environment and contribute to lower emission.