Refuting media reports, Delhi transport minister Dr Pankaj Singh clarified that “all bikes and autos will continue to operate in the Union Territory”. On Tuesday, the Delhi government approved a three-month extension of its current EV policy and the continuation of power subsidies. This comes ahead of the implementation of EV Policy 2.0, which aims for electric vehicles to account for 95 percent of all new vehicle registrations by 2027 to tackle air pollution.
Delhi EV policy 2.0 updates
The implementation of the upcoming policy has been delayed several times. According to officials, the Cabinet, chaired by Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta, has recommended changes to the new electric vehicle policy proposed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. “Discussions on the new policy are underway. The existing policy will continue to remain in force until the new policy is finalised,” Singh told the media.
An official also addressed concerns over news reports claiming a ban on new CNG autorickshaw registrations and the non-renewal of existing permits from August 15, and that only e-auto permits would be issued going forward. “There are over 1,00,000 autorickshaws and two-wheelers in Delhi. It’s not feasible to phase them out or push for an immediate shift to EVs…The reports about banning them have caused panic. All of these concerns were discussed, and suggestions were made to bring in changes to promote EVs and facilitate a smooth transition from [petrol] or CNG vehicles to electric,” he said.
What about private vehicle owners?
A direct impact on private vehicle owners is yet to be understood, as the policy remains under discussion. The policy could give the EV sector a boost at a time when it is facing a slowdown – Suzuki Motors, for instance, has recently scaled back its EV plans. Indian carmakers like Tata Motors and Mahindra, and global players like Tesla, could see higher demand if the policy goes ahead.