Delhi to Introduce Stricter EV Policy, Targeting Public Transport Electrification
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government is poised to introduce stricter measures to encourage electric mobility within the capital. A new policy will mandate that any household purchasing a third four-wheeler must opt for an electric vehicle. This measure forms part of the draft EV 2.0 policy, which is expected to be presented to the cabinet for approval soon.
Officials have confirmed that Transport Minister Dr. Pankaj Singh has already given in-principle approval to the draft policy. The framework’s primary goal is to systematically phase out fossil fuel-driven public transport, starting with strict regulations on three-wheelers.
According to the draft policy, the government will cease registering non-electric passenger and carrier three-wheelers starting in August. Furthermore, all auto-rickshaws over ten years old must be replaced or retrofitted with electric alternatives. In addition, permits for CNG auto rickshaws will not be renewed after August; these permits will either be replaced or reissued as e-auto permits.
The new framework aims to systematically phase out fossil fuel-driven public transport, beginning with stringent regulations on three-wheelers.
A major push will also be made toward electrifying the fleet of state civic agencies. Under the new policy, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) are expected to transition completely to EVs by 2027.
If the cabinet approves the draft policy, the fresh regulations will come into effect beginning April 1, as the current EV policy expires on March 31. To enhance the charging infrastructure, the policy outlines plans to establish 13,200 new EV charging stations, ensuring stations are available every five kilometers throughout the city. However, the administration faces challenges in meeting its existing infrastructure targets. While aiming to set up 48,000 charging points by 2026, only about 10 percent of that goal has been achieved thus far.
The overarching objective of the EV 2.0 policy is to ensure that 95 percent of new vehicle registrations in Delhi are electric by 2027, with a further increase to 98 percent by 2030. The government fell short of its earlier target of 25 percent new EV registrations by 2024, managing only 13 to 14 percent. To expedite the transition, all CNG auto rickshaws older than ten years will be required to convert to electric, with a complete three-wheeler electrification target set for 2027.
