The Delhi government, led by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, has given the green light to extend the Delhi Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy until December 31, 2023. This decision, reached during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, ensures the continuity of existing incentives and subsidies until the specified date or until the official notification of Delhi EV Policy 2.0, whichever comes first. Gahlot affirmed, “Delhi EV Policy 2.0 is in its final stages and will be notified shortly after necessary approvals.”
Originally launched in August 2020, the Delhi EV Policy faced expiration on August 7, 2023, briefly halting the registration of all categories of electric vehicles in the capital for two days. Consequently, the government extended the policy’s provisions until further notice.
At the forefront of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s endeavors in Delhi, the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy was introduced as a pivotal measure to address air pollution by mitigating vehicular emissions through a dual-pronged approach. Firstly, a significant shift was initiated by the state government, transitioning a substantial portion of the Delhi Transport Corporation’s (DTC) fleet—comprising 800 electric buses—from Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to electric propulsion out of a total fleet of 3,700 buses. Underlining its commitment, the government pledged to exclusively procure electric buses as replacements for retiring CNG buses, signaling a strategic move towards sustainable and environmentally friendly public transportation.
The second major shift involved encouraging residents to adopt electric vehicles by providing subsidies. With a target set for 25 percent of all new vehicles registered in Delhi to be electric by 2025, a Hindustan Times report indicates the purchase of 129,000 electric vehicles between August 2020 and June 2023. Delhi currently boasts a robust infrastructure, featuring over 4,500 charging points and 250 battery swapping stations, many established through the public-private partnership model.
In addition, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot announced that Electric Vehicles Policy 2.0 marks the final phase, emphasizing the transition of commercial vehicles to further reduce pollution in the capital. He highlighted the vision that, beyond 2030, all vehicles in Delhi are expected to be electric.
Source: News18