Delhi EV Policy and its huge Success: Decisive Shift to Electric Vehicles

Last Updated: 29 Nov 2024

Delhi Government launched Most progressive EV policy in India and among the best globally on August 7, 2020[1]
-- Same policy to be extended till March 2025 until EV2.0 policy is launched[2]

IMPACT: Total number of electric vehicles in Delhi has increased 600%
-- ~34,000(2022)[3] to 2,20,618+(Aug 2024)[2:1]

Delhi EV Policy 2.0: Delay in launching after Delhi LG's sacking of CEO & all the experts of Delhi government's EV Cell in July 2023
-- EV Cell was responsible for implementing the Delhi Electric Vehicles policy[4]

"The Delhi EV policy is both innovative and comprehensive in nature. It outlines clear adoption strategies for last-mile connectivity through three-wheelers, two-wheelers and shared mobility by four-wheelers. The policy also encourages personal buyers to switch to electric cars." -- Mahesh Babu, CEO, Mahindra Electric

Objectives

  • Reduce Pollution: Considering 42% of the vehicular pollution (PM 2.5) in Delhi is caused by 2 & 3 wheelers, their adoption is crucial for reducing vehicular pollution[5]
  • Job Creation: To support the creation of jobs in Driving, Sales & financing, Servicing and Charging station operations of Electric Vehicles[6]

EV Revolution in public Buses

All details including new business & operating model, Current status, targets and impact covered separately

Achievements till May 2024[7]

Dec 2023: Delhi recorded a massive 19.5% sales of EVs, the highest-ever in India

EV Charging Infrastructure (Till Aug 24)[8]

Indicator Count
Total charging points 5000+
Private EV charging points (RWAs/Malls) 1496[9]
Battery swapping points 318

The cost of charging per unit lowest not only in India but also the world. People will have to spend less than Rs 3 per Unit[10]

Awards and Recognitions

  • Delhi’s EV policy in NITI Aayog list of ‘best practices’ -- Centre’s UMANG[11]

  • Delhi is among the leaders in Electric Vehicle ( EV) adoption in India -- Central Electricity Authority ( CEA )[5:1]

Delhi accounted for 55% of the elcticity consumption for EV charging(113.4 millions units) in India for FY 2022-23[5:2]

Long Term Targets

Charging Infra

  • 40,000 charging points at private and semi-public sites by 2025[15]
  • Rs 2 per unit EV charging cost[6:1]
  • Accessible public charging facilities within 3 km travel from anywhere in Delhi[16]

Implementation

  • Switch Delhi Campaign:

    • Public awareness campaign to promote EV adoption[17]

  • Subsidies & Convenience: A one-stop destination website(ev.delhi.gov.in/)[17:1]

    • Feebate concept: The Delhi EV Policy has adopted this concept i.e. inefficient or polluting vehicles incur a surcharge (e.g. pollution cess, road tax, congestion tax etc) to fund incentives for EV vehicles
    • Incentives like Free Registration, Zero Road Tax
    • Additional Subsidies for e-Vehicles
      a. Subsidy up to ₹30k per 2W/3W eVehicle
      b. Subsidy up to ₹1.5 lakh per 4W eVehicle
    • 5% interest subvention on loans

  • Availability of Charging Infra & Cheap cost

    • 100% grant for the purchase of charging equipment per charging point upto Rs 6000 for first 30000 charging points[14:1]
    • Top shopping malls to install charging points at least 5% of their parking capacity[18]

  • Single-window process for installing private EV charging point[5:3]

    • Available both online and through a phone call

Delhi EV Policy 2.0[19]

  • Revised policy to target heavy vehicles
  • Incentivize the deployment of DC high-power charging infrastructure

Industry Response[20]

"Delhi’s EV penetration across all vehicle segments in private and commercial sectors is a classic example of what can be achieved through effective policy implementation, and by adopting a collaborative and consultative approach. The city has a very active and involved group of EV stakeholders across industry, think tanks, research institutes and civil society organisations. We hope that the revised EV policy will place Delhi on the global map as one of the most progressive e-mobility cities in the world.” said Ms. Aarti Khosla, Director, Climate Trends[21]

"We would like to sincerely congratulate the Delhi Govt. for announcing a very comprehensive EV Policy which should encourage consumers to adopt EVs in the State of Delhi." -- Rajesh Menon, Director General, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM)

"We are delighted to see the Delhi government take the lead in making EV's more appealing to customers. On behalf of Hero Electric, I am thankful that the government considered most of our recommendations including the conversion of commercial ICE vehicles into electric" -- Sohinder Gill, CEO, Hero Electric and Director General, SMEV

"It is a befitting move by the Government of Delhi. This will help in faster adoption of e-mobility and help in curbing pollution levels.." -- Ayush Lohia, CEO, Lohia Auto Industries

"Last year we met the Delhi EV policy team and gave our inputs. To see our suggestions of focusing more on Home and Workplace charging points being included and actioned out assures us about the serious intent of the Delhi government. This policy incorporates a lot of practical points for EV adoption in Delhi band for other states to follow." -- Maxson Lewis, Director of Magenta Power

References:

  1. https://ev.delhi.gov.in/vision-mission ↩︎

  2. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhis-ev-policy-extended-till-march-2025-says-atishi-9696301/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. https://delhiplanning.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/Planning/chapter_12.pdf ↩︎

  4. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/delhis-ev-cell-faces-setback-as-ceo-and-experts-are-sacked-putting-ev-policy-implementation-at-risk-101690396407173.html ↩︎

  5. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/e-vehicles-in-city-use-55-of-countrys-ecs-power/articleshow/100861885.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst&from=mdr ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  6. https://ddc.delhi.gov.in/our-work/6/delhi-electric-vehicles-policy-2020 ↩︎ ↩︎

  7. https://cleanmobilityshift.com/ev-dashboard/ ↩︎

  8. https://www.jagran.com/delhi/new-delhi-city-ncr-delhi-electric-vehicles-crossed-two-lakh-people-become-aware-of-environment-23773345.html ↩︎

  9. https://delhiplanning.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/Planning/generic_multiple_files/outcome_budget_2023-24_1-9-23.pdf ↩︎

  10. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/99308139.cms?from=mdr&utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst ↩︎

  11. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/centres-umang-delhis-ev-policy-in-niti-aayog-list-of-best-practices-8597079/lite/ ↩︎

  12. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/renewables/delhi-draft-policy-for-cab-aggregators-food-delivery-firms-mandates-transition-to-all-electric-vehicles-by-april-1-2030/articleshow/92693162.cms?from=mdr ↩︎

  13. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/delhi-government-approves-draft-policy-requiring-uber-and-ola-to-switch-to-electric-fleets-in-7-years-101683743787231.html ↩︎

  14. https://jmkresearch.com/delhi-ev-policy-2020/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  15. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/big-spurt-in-pvt-electric-car-sales-in-delhi-reveals-data-from-2023-101704306529059.html ↩︎

  16. https://powermin.gov.in/sites/default/files/uploads/EV/Delhi.pdf ↩︎

  17. https://ddc.delhi.gov.in/our-work/6/switch-delhi-campaign ↩︎ ↩︎

  18. https://ddc.delhi.gov.in/events/launch-ev-charging-guidebook-shopping-malls ↩︎

  19. https://theicct.org/publication/hdv-india-delhi-ev-policy-jun23/ ↩︎

  20. https://www.carandbike.com/news/auto-industry-reacts-to-delhi-ev-policy-2153921 ↩︎

  21. https://www.pv-magazine-india.com/press-releases/10-5-0f-annual-average-electric-mobility-penetration-achieved-in-2022-as-delhi-prepares-for-its-ev-policy-2-0/ ↩︎