Delhi EV Policy, which is claimed to be the most streamlined and attractive electric vehicle policy in India will reduce carbon emissions by 4.8 million tonnes in 4 years, claims Dialogue and Development Commission Vice Chairperson Jasmine Shah.
Sharing the Delhi government’s vision for clean and green future of mobility at the UNFCCC ‘Race to Zero Dialogue: Launching the global race to zero-emission mobility’, Shah said that the motivation behind Delhi’s ambitious roadmap for transition to zero-emission vehicles is to address both climate change and the health emergency that arises from the high level of air pollution in the national capital.
The dialogue was organised by the climate group in collaboration with the UN High-Level Climate Champions and the UK COP26 Presidency. It was attended by climate activists alongside leaders from business and government fraternity.
Delhi-NCR is considered as one of the most polluted cities across the world. According to several studies, the people living in Delhi-NCR suffer from chronic respiratory diseases due to the high-level of air pollution. Also, the citizens living in the national capital have at least 3 years of less lifespan in comparison to other cities.
The Delhi EV Policy aims to bring down the level of vehicular pollution in the city by promoting electric mobility. This comes in line with the central government’s e-mobility strategy. Apart from Delhi, several other states across the country are also promoting electric vehicles and the relevant infrastructure with their respective EV policies.
Delhi EV Policy aims 25% of all newly-registered vehicles to be EVs by 2024, as compared to 0.2% in 2020. “This clarity has enabled the government to focus on all steps that need to be taken to facilitate this transition,” Shah said.
5 key pillars of Delhi EV Policy:
- Delhi EV Policy targets the fiscal incentives for specific vehicle segments that contribute maximum to vehicular pollution in Delhi’s and India’s context In this case, the two and three-wheelers contribute most to Delhi’s vehicular pollution.
- The Delhi government introduced non-financial incentives to help the stakeholders overcome barriers that might hamper electric vehicle adoption. The administration has allowed bike taxis to ply in Delhi only if they are battery powered, instead of fossil-fuel powered.
- Charging infrastructure plays a key role in the growth of electric mobility. Delhi EV Policy focuses on the same and promotes setting up charging infra in both public and private places, including malls and offices.
- Delhi government focuses on taking lead in conducting public awareness campaigns to sensitize and inform the citizens about the benefits of electric vehicles and e-mobility.
- Besides offering incentives on EV purchase and setting up charging infrastructure, Delhi EV Policy also focuses on skill training related to jobs that will arise during the transition to a green economy.
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