Key facts
- Delhi's new policy aims for most new vehicle registrations to be electric by 2027.
- The policy offers subsidies and tax waivers for EV purchases and incentives for scrapping old gasoline vehicles.
- New three-wheeled vehicles and small trucks must be electric starting in 2027, with two-wheelers following in 2028.
- Currently, electric vehicles constitute about 5% of Delhi's registered vehicles.
- The plan includes 150 billion rupees ($1.5 billion) in subsidies for EV adoption.
- Vehicles contribute significantly to Delhi's severe air pollution, with two- and three-wheelers being major polluters.
Delhi is implementing an aggressive policy to transition to electric vehicles by 2027 in an effort to combat severe air pollution. The policy, which began on July 1, aims to make electric vehicles the majority of new registrations, offering subsidies and tax waivers to encourage adoption and the phasing out of gasoline-powered vehicles.
Drivers in Delhi are already utilizing available charging stations, but many, like marketing executive Shyam Singh, point to a need for more facilities and longer battery ranges to fully commit to EVs. The policy targets two- and three-wheelers, which constitute nearly 70% of vehicles in the city, mandating that new registrations for these categories be electric starting in 2027 and 2028, respectively. Larger trucks and three-wheelers must also be electric from 2027.
Energy experts, such as Jaideep Saraswat, consider Delhi's EV policy among India's most ambitious, viewing it as a crucial step toward improving air quality. The plan includes cash incentives of up to 50,000 rupees ($522) for EV purchases and up to 100,000 rupees ($1,044) for scrapping old gasoline vehicles. Currently, electric vehicles represent about 5% of Delhi's 8.7 million registered vehicles, though over 100,000 new EV registrations occurred in the past year.
Vehicles are a significant contributor to Delhi's air pollution, accounting for roughly a quarter of the problem in the National Capital Region, with two- and three-wheelers being major culprits. Ruchita Shah, an energy analyst, noted that Delhi has a history of clean energy initiatives, including a previous shift to compressed natural gas vehicles. In the 2026 financial year, EVs made up 12.7% of Delhi's new vehicle sales, compared to 8.3% nationally.
However, challenges remain. Some potential EV buyers, like software engineer Siddhant Jha, express concerns about EV longevity, the impact of annual flooding on electrical components, and the initial cost. The success of Delhi's policy hinges on the development of sufficient charging infrastructure and a shift towards renewable energy sources for power generation, as most charging currently occurs at night, relying on thermal power plants. Environmentalist Sunil Dahiya suggests implementing battery storage at charging stations and time-of-day pricing to incentivize charging during periods of high renewable energy availability. Dahiya also stressed the need for grid upgrades to support the anticipated surge in EV demand.