Delhi:EROS TIMES: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today announced that the cabinet has given its approval to the Delhi government’s ambitious Electric Vehicle Policy, which aims to reduce pollution levels in the city and generate employment in the transportation sector.
CM Arvind Kejriwal said, “To tackle the issue of air pollution in Delhi, the cabinet has decided to pass the Electric Vehicle Policy, which is a very ambitious policy in its scope and vision. We aim to transform the national capital into the EV Capital of India. Vehicles are the biggest source of pollution in the capital and amount to 40% of PM2.5 air pollution levels and 80% of carbon monoxide in the air.
The first draft of the Delhi EV Policy came out in November 2018 last year and was put on the public domain. Several rounds of discussion with the experts and the general public were held to invite suggestions.
We received comments from various associations such as the United Nations Environment Program, International Council on Clean Transport, and industry bodies such as CII, and Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles and non-profit organizations such as CSE, etc. The comments were taken into purview and incorporated in the formulation of the policy.”
Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2019 aims to induct electric vehicles which shall contribute to 25% of the newly registered vehicles across Delhi. “Along with reducing pollution levels in the city, the policy also aims to generate employment in the transport sector. The maximum emphasis is laid on two-wheelers, public transport and shared vehicles, and goods-carriers,” said CM Kejriwal.
Briefing the media about the details of the EV Policy, CM Arvind Kejriwal said, “Currently, the percentage strength of electric two-wheelers is less than 0.2% and that of three-wheeler is almost zero. We hope that 35,000 electric vehicles will be inducted in Delhi within the next one year, and 250 charging stations will be constructed across the city. We also hope that within the next five years, five lakh electric vehicles will be registered in Delhi.
Over their lifetime, these electric vehicles are estimated to save approximately Rs 6,000 crores worth of oil and liquid natural gas consumption. They will also avoid emissions of 4.8 million tonnes of CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions, which is equivalent to avoiding CO2 emissions from nearly one lakh petrol cars over their lifetime. They will also help avoid about 159 tonnes of PM 2.5 emissions.”
Under the EV Policy, the Delhi government is providing a subsidy of Rs. 5,000 per kWh of battery capacity on the purchase of two-wheeler. Scrapping incentive up to Rs. 5000 will be offered for the scrapping of a non-electric two-wheeler vehicle and switching to an electric vehicle.
A special provision has been made for ride-hailing service providers such as Ola and Uber, wherein they will be allowed to operate electric two-wheeler taxis.
All two-wheeler engaged in last-mile deliveries, such as food delivery vehicles, courier services, and e-commerce logistics, will be expected to transition 50% of their fleet to electric by March 2023, and 100% of their fleet to electric by March 2025. Likewise, the purchase subsidy on electric autos, e-rickshaws, and e-carriers is up to Rs.30,000 and loans on a subsidy of 5% will be provided to them.
Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal said, “The purchase subsidy of four-wheeler is Rs.10,000 per kWh of battery capacity for the first 1000 cars subject to a cap of Rs.1,50,000 per vehicle.
All leased/hired cars used for the commute of GNCTD officers will be transitioned to electric vehicles within a period of one year. The Delhi government also aims to transition 50% of the newly purchased buses into electric buses by the year 2024 and 100% by the year 2030.
There will be no road tax on registration fees on electric vehicles.”
CM Kejriwal said private charging stations will be built and building by-laws will be changed for the induction and operation of the electric vehicles.
He said, “Workplace and residential parking will have 20% of the parking or vehicle holding capacity as EV enabled.
The Delhi government will provide a 100% subsidy for the purchase of charging equipment up to Rs. 6,000 per charging point for the first 30,000 charging points at homes/workplaces. The subsidy is to be routed through DISCOMS who will be in-charge of charger installations. We are also aiming to provide public charging infrastructure after a distance of every 3 km in Delhi.”
For the policy implementation, a dedicated EV cell will be established within the Transport Department for the effective day-to-day implementation of the Delhi State EV Policy.
CM Kejriwal said, “Funding for the various incentives under Delhi EV Policy will be obtained from multiple sources such as Pollution/Diesel Cess, Road Tax, Environment Compensation Charge (ECC), etc., which will be monitored under the newly established ‘State EV Fund’. A State EV Board shall be constituted as the apex body for the effective implementation and monitoring of Delhi EV Policy 2019.”
“The regular employees of the DTC have also started getting transport allowances up to Rs.4000 per month, which was earlier only available to other transport department employees,” added the Chief Minister.