WEF analysis sees India poised for electric cooking transition

A World Economic Forum analysis published January 29, 2026 argues India can replicate its electric vehicle success, following 2 million EV registrations in 2025, to drive a national shift to electric cooking. The transition offers Indian technology providers and financiers a multi-billion-dollar green market while reducing household reliance on LPG and piped natural gas.

The World Economic Forum published an analysis on January 29, 2026 highlighting India's potential to replicate its electric vehicle success in the kitchen. Following 2 million electric vehicle registrations in 2025, experts suggest the nation is primed for an electric cooking transition using similar policy levers. The FAME scheme reduced upfront EV costs, and the same combination of government support and financial incentives could accelerate adoption of induction cooktops and smart electric stoves, shifting households away from LPG and piped natural gas.

The transition affects households, commercial kitchens, appliance manufacturers, and financial institutions. Research from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis confirms e-cooking is already more cost-effective than non-subsidised gas alternatives, with electric appliances offering 85% to 90% energy efficiency and reaching boiling points in half the time of traditional burners. The shift also delivers health benefits by eliminating indoor air pollution from biomass and fossil-fuel combustion, while greening of the national grid strengthens the environmental case.

Policymakers should consider targeted incentives for commercial kitchens and residential clusters, mirroring the PM-eBus Sewa scheme, and integration with welfare programmes like PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana for solar-powered homes. Domestic manufacturing under Atmanirbhar Bharat could position India as a hub for efficient cooking technologies. Technology providers and financiers should monitor policy interventions overcoming initial capital costs, as institutionalising electric cooking offers a multi-billion-dollar green market aligned with national decarbonisation goals.

Key figure — Energy efficiency of electric cooking appliances: 85% to 90%