Delhi government launches new EV policy

NEW DELHI: The Government of Delhi has issued the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2020, to boost the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the national capital. The Policy has been introduced as the scheme launched by the central government was not successful in achieving its goals. The policy is valid for three years and aims to speed up the pace of EV adoption, primarily in the category of two-wheelers, public and shared transport vehicles and goods carriers. It plans to boost the adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) so that they make up 25 per cent of all new vehicle registrations by the year 2024.

Financial incentives, tax and fee waivers, charging and swapping infrastructure establishment, job creation, battery cycling ecosystem and the creation of a non-lapsable ‘State EV Fund’ are all part of the new EV Policy of the Delhi government. Further, under the scheme, Rs 30,000 would be given as purchase incentives to those buying electric two-wheelers, e-rickshaws, and goods carriers while incentives ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 1,50,000 would be given to people buying electric cars. The vehicles must adhere to the same performance and efficiency eligibility criteria as specified in the central government’s faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Phase II (FAME India Phase II) policy. 

The policy of the Delhi government also seeks to encourage setting up private charging points at residential and non-residential premises. The state government said it would provide a grant of 100% for the purchase of charging equipment up to ₹6,000 per charging point for the first 30,000 charging points. Additionally, the government aims to make public charging facilities accessible every three kilometres in Delhi along with promotion of reuse and recycling of EV batteries that have reached the end of their life. This will not only reduce the battery’s adverse impacts on the environment but will also help in reducing the rate of reused batteries. 

An open permit will be applicable for e-autos wherein permits will be given on the first-come-first-serve basis. The state government will be looking at the substantial addition of buses to the public transport fleet in the period 2019-2022. The policy seeks pure electric buses to constitute at least 50% of all new stage carriage buses procured for the city fleet, starting with the induction of 1000 pure electric buses by 2020.