Key facts
- Electric two-wheeler registrations in Delhi rose to 20,239 in January-May, the highest since 2019.
- Private electric car registrations increased to 9,471 in the same period, also a post-2019 high.
- E-rickshaw registrations dropped to 1,887, a 93% decrease from the previous year.
- Electric commercial passenger four-wheelers saw a 254% increase in registrations.
- The Delhi government's draft EV Policy 2.0 proposes phasing out fossil fuel vehicle registrations.
- Petrol vehicles still dominate Delhi's overall vehicle registrations.
Electric two-wheeler and private electric car registrations in Delhi reached their highest levels since 2019 during the January-May period of this year. This surge contrasts sharply with e-rickshaws, which saw their registrations fall to the lowest point in seven years.
Electric two-wheelers dominated Delhi's electric vehicle market, comprising 51.9% of all EV registrations in the first five months. Private electric cars followed with a 24.3% share. Electric two-wheeler registrations increased by nearly 70% year-on-year to 20,239, while private electric car registrations grew by approximately 96% to 9,471.
In stark contrast, e-rickshaw registrations plummeted by 93% to 1,887, accounting for only 4.8% of the total EV registrations. This marks a significant drop after 2025, which had recorded the highest e-rickshaw registrations since 2019.
Other segments also showed growth, with electric commercial passenger four-wheelers experiencing a 254% rise and electric bus registrations increasing by 59%. Despite this EV growth, petrol-powered vehicles continue to be the dominant mode of transport in Delhi, with over 2.58 lakh registrations in the same period.
The Delhi government is expected to soon unveil its Electric Vehicle Policy 2.0. The draft policy proposes significant changes, including the discontinuation of new CNG autorickshaw registrations from August 15, and the phasing out of fossil fuel-powered vehicles for waste management. Furthermore, it recommends ending registrations for new petrol, diesel, and CNG-powered two-wheelers and goods-carrying three-wheelers from mid-August.
Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at Envirocatalysts, described the new EV policy as a bold step towards eliminating polluting vehicles. He emphasized that while regulatory interventions are accelerating EV adoption, achieving breathable air requires a comprehensive approach that includes scaling up public transport, non-motorized transit, and stringent emission controls across various industries.