New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) Experts have welcomed the Delhi government’s EV Policy, saying its proposed phase-out of petrol and CNG-powered two- and three-wheelers and incentives for zero-emission vehicles could significantly reduce vehicular pollution in the national capital.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the new Electric Vehicle Policy will be implemented from July 1, and the cabinet-approved policy has been sent to Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu for final approval.
The Delhi government announced that electric cars priced up to Rs 30 lakh (ex-showroom) will get a 100 per cent exemption on road tax and registration fees in Delhi, while only electric autorickshaws will be registered in the city from January 1, 2027.
The policy also provides for a phased transition from conventional fuel-powered vehicles.
Registration of new petrol and CNG two-wheelers will be discontinued from April 1, 2028, after which only electric two-wheelers will be registered in the national capital.
Gupta said that around Rs 15,000 crore would be invested under the policy over the next four years to promote electric mobility and curb vehicular pollution.
Sharif Qamar, Fellow and Associate Director at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), described it as a forward-looking policy that could serve as a model for other states.
“The policy gives a good framework which can result in a reduction in vehicular emissions in Delhi in the next few years,” he said, adding that states in the Indo-Gangetic plains, which witness a sharp rise in pollution during winter, could benefit from a similar approach.
Qamar said the policy was also likely to attract private investment and strengthen the city’s EV ecosystem.
However, he stressed a significant expansion in charging infrastructure for the policy to become a success.
“The target to install over 30,000 EV charging stations is good, but to cater to the upcoming demand, more charging stations will be required in the national capital,” he said.
Qamar said commercial and fleet vehicles often occupy charging stations, necessitating additional capacity for private users. He also called for greater participation by housing societies, resident welfare associations, and apartment complexes in setting up charging facilities.
Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director at the Centre for Science and Environment, said the decision to allow only electric three-wheelers and N1 trucks to be registered from next year was a welcome move.
“Along with subsidies on new purchases, there was an urgent need for a legal mandate to properly implement the new EV policy so that the desired results to reduce vehicular emissions can be achieved,” she said.
According to Roychowdhury, two-wheelers are a major contributor to vehicular emissions in Delhi.
She also welcomed the decision not to provide subsidies for hybrid vehicles.
“If we truly want to achieve net zero emissions in the national capital, vehicles which have zero tailpipe emissions should only be provided subsidies,” she said.
Amit Bhatt, Managing Director (India) at the International Council on Clean Transportation, said phase-out of new internal combustion engine-powered two- and three-wheelers could be a major step in tackling Delhi’s air pollution.
“These segments account for a large share of the city’s vehicle fleet, and accelerating their transition to zero-emission vehicles can significantly reduce vehicular emissions, improve public health, and pave the way for a broader transition to zero-emission transport across all vehicle segments,” Bhatt said.
He added that discontinuing purchase incentives for strong hybrid vehicles would help channel policy support and investment towards zero-emission transport technologies.
Environmentalist Bhavreen Kandhari said the policy should not just focus on private vehicles, but also on making public transport green.
“More cars on the road is not a solution. To reduce traffic jams and dust in the city, the government should work on improving public transport and last-mile connectivity with green solutions. This EV policy falls short on that aspect,” she said. PTI VBH SHM VN VN
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