In the past one year, Delhi has seen an increase in the usage of electric vehicles (EVs) and the biggest reason for that upswing are the policies of the Delhi government which is promoting and incentivising the usage of EVs.

The sales of EVs have soared by 40 per cent since the implementation of electric vehicle policy by the Delhi government two years back. According to Delhi government website EV Delhi, the electric vehicle policy aims to have one out of every four vehicles sold in Delhi by 2024 to be an EV. It directs funding through sources like pollution cess, road tax, congestion tax environment compensation charge, etc.

Incentives galore

The Delhi government is offering an incentive of nearly Rs 100 crore on electric vehicles under its ambitious Electric Vehicle Policy launched in 2020. The policy's mission is to drive rapid adoption of EVs to ensure they contribute 25 percent of all new vehicle registrations by 2024.

A big obstacle for people switching from ICE to EV is the cost of the electric vehicles.  As it is an emerging market, with growing demand, the prices of EVs are still quite high. But the Delhi government is offering incentives of up to Rs. 30,000 on electric two-wheelers, e-rickshaws and electric goods carriers and of up to Rs. 1.5 lakh on electric passenger vehicles. 

These incentives will be offered in addition to the incentives offered by the central government under the FAME II scheme. 

Roadmap for charging infrastructure

To also ease any range anxiety for EV buyers, the Delhi government is also ramping up charging infrastructure within the city. 

Now the Delhi government is working on a blueprint to implement kerb-side charging for EVs on all major roads.Kerb-side charging is a new worldwide idea in which EVs can be charged while parked on roadside kerbs using either street light lamp posts or specialised charging posts.

It is also the aim of the Delhi government to have one public charging point for every 15 EVs by 2024. These charging points will be spread evenly across the state and accessible within three kilometres from anywhere in Delhi.

Ramping up the service

It is also important to promote the ease of maintaining the EVs in the capital. The Delhi government has recently launched a programme, in partnership with Hero Electric and World Resources Institute India (WRI India), to provide comprehensive training to electric vehicle mechanics.

The focus on EV focused training will create green jobs in the city and prepare the requisite workforce for the upcoming EV ecosystem.

"Delhi has already emerged as India's EV capital by accelerating EV adoption through its dedicated policy launched in August 2020.  The policy aims for nearly 25 percent of all new vehicle registrations to be EVs by 2024. Currently, 10 percent of all new vehicle registrations in Delhi are for EVs,â€_x009d_ said Jasmine Shah, Vice Chairperson, Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDC Delhi), at the launch of the partnership.