Image: Pixabay /Nandu VasudevanOn 11 April, Delhi’s Transport Department published a draft for the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2026–2030 with multiple regulatory measures to curb air pollution, focusing on accelerating the transition to EVs. It proposes allowing only EVs for new registrations in the three-wheeler segment from 1 January 2027 and extending this restriction to two-wheelers from 1 April 2028, noting that two-wheelers account for about 67 per cent of the total vehicles in the city.Fleet aggregators would no longer be allowed to add new ICE four-wheeled light commercial vehicles (LCVs) or light goods vehicles (LGVs) with a GVW of up to 3.5 tonnes. They will be allowed to add ICE two-wheelers until 31 December 2026, though.In the government fleet, all hired/leased vehicles except emergency/exempted vehicles and all purchased/hired/leased trucks with a GVW of up to 3.5 tonnes would need to be electric models. The new intra-state buses procured by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) would have to be electric or other cleaner fuel models, such as hydrogen-fuelled ones, for example.The national capital aims to increase the adoption of electric models among school buses as well, albeit in a phased manner. It is proposing that schools must ensure that 10 per cent of their school bus fleet is electric within two years from the date of notification, rising to 20 per cent by the end of the third year and 30 per cent by March 2030.Subsidies for new EV purchasesThe Transport Department is also considering offering subsidies on EVs. Residents purchasing electric two-wheelers with an ex-factory price of up to 225,000 rupees (2,048 euros) in the first year would get a subsidy of up to 10,000 rupees (91 euros) per kWh, capped at 30,000 rupees (273 euros). The subsidy would reduce to 6,600 rupees (60 euros) per kWh, capped at 20,000 rupees (182 euros), in the second year, and further to 3,300 rupees (30 euros) per kWh, capped at 10,000 rupees (91 euros), in the third year.In the three-wheeler segment, the Transport Department is proposing a flat subsidy of 50,000 rupees (455 euros) in the first year, 40,000 rupees (364 euros) in the second year, and 30,000 rupees (273 euros) in the third year. It is considering this benefit for only auto-rickshaws, though, not cargo models. It is also proposing a flat subsidy for four-wheeled LGVs with a GVW of up to 3.5 tonnes, set at 100,000 rupees (910 euros) in the first year, 75,000 rupees (683 euros) in the second year, and 50,000 rupees (455 euros) in the third year.Bonus for scrapping old ICE vehiclesDelhi residents scrapping their locally registered BS-IV and older ICE vehicles and switching to EVs would also be eligible for a scrappage bonus. The Transport Department is proposing a scrappage bonus of 10,000 rupees (91 euros) for two-wheelers, 25,000 rupees (228 euros) for auto-rickshaws, 50,000 rupees (455 euros) for four-wheeled LGVs with a GVW of up to 3.5 tonnes, and 100,000 rupees (910 euros) for non-transport cars. In the case of non-transport cars, though, only the first 100,000 applicants would be eligible for this incentive.Exemptions on EVs and HEVsThe Transport Department is also open to fully exempting all EVs from road tax and registration fees. However, in the case of cars, it would offer this incentive only on models with an ex-showroom price of up to 3 million rupees (approx. 27,300 euros). Interestingly, it is proposing a 50 per cent exemption on road tax and registration fees for full-hybrid cars (HEVs) as well.The draft states that the general public and other stakeholders have until 11 May 2026 to submit their feedback on the proposed EV policy. It adds that the policy would take effect from the date of notification but does not specify a timeline for this.transport.delhi.gov.in (PDF)
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