The previous EV policy expired on August 8, leading the Delhi government to extend the Delhi Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, 2020, until a new one is finalised.
The transport department and Delhi Electric Vehicle Cell also held a stakeholder consultation in May as part of the process of drafting a revised ‘Delhi EV Policy 2.0, but the draft is now stuck following the dismantling of the EV cell, including its CEO and five experts.
Meanwhile, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot expressed concern over the loss of these experts, noting their involvement in refining policies through feedback analysis and formulation.
“Now that these people have been asked to go, it is the loss of the people of Delhi. They were in the process of examining the feedback that was being received and giving shape to policies,” he said. An official indicated that the absence of these specialists from the dedicated implementation body could delay the new policy by a few months. Nonetheless, consultations have shown consensus among stakeholders for enhanced incentives in the upcoming policy. Earlier this month, Gahlot assured that the subsidy benefits under the existing electric vehicle policy will continue until a new one gets notified.
The Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy, introduced in August 2020, aims at increasing the EV share in total vehicle sales to 25 per cent by 2024. According to official data, over 1.12 lakh electric vehicles have been sold under the policy.
In June this year, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Delhi has become the country’s electric vehicle capital, with the highest number of such vehicles being bought in the city.
