Delhi plans e-vehicles for last-mile connectivity

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Delhi plans e-vehicles for last-mile connectivity

Tuesday, 17 September 2019 | GAYATHRI MANI | NEW DELHI

Delhi plans e-vehicles for last-mile connectivity

In a bid to make the national Capital pollution free, the Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC), in association with the Rocky Mountain Institute, has decided to start a first-of-its-kind pilot project on the electrification of last-mile connectivity in Delhi, called Deliver Electric Delhi (DED).

Under the plan, all-out efforts will be made to promote electric vehicles as Delhi Metro feeder buses, to replace e-rickshaws, and to ply as e-commerce delivery vehicles. The Government plans to rope in online food delivery firms like Domino’s Pizza, Big Basket, Zomato, Swiggy, and courier services in the project. 

 The Government is also expected to implement the ‘EV Draft Policy’ by end of the month.

The DDC submitted a new study report to the Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Monday. The study suggests that the EV policy of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government can help make Delhi a pollution-free city.

“As Delhi looks to take ambitious steps towards inducting large number of electric buses and taking leadership in fighting air pollution, this report will become an important reference point for all our agencies on the various reforms needed to ensure a successful transition to electric vehicles.”

About 1,000 electric last-mile delivery vehicles are expected to be part of the pilot project over the next year.

“The main aim behind the project is to promote the usage of electric vehicles in the city. The Transport Department has already started the process to procure electric buses in order to provide last-mile connectivity and to curb pollution. Besides, we are working with about 25 electric vehicle producing companies and solution providers to promote and create awareness about the project. Further, besides 1000 EV, the Government will include the Zomato Swiggy and other delivery services to use electric vehicles as these companies uses two wheelers largely for delivery services,” said Jasmine Shah, vice-chairman of DDC.

Shah further added, “Investing in clean mobility is investing in the health of the people of Delhi and that is why the Government is keen on playing a significant role in catalysing and easing the city’s transition to electric mobility. The Urban Mobility Lab’s report shows the sign that Government is keen to work with all stakeholders to implement solutions that can make Delhi an Electric Vehicle capital of India.”

As per the report, to meet the 25 per cent target of Delhi’s EV policy, it will need to register about five lakh new EVs in the next five years as these vehicles can save an estimated approximate amount of Rs 6,000 crore fuel imports; CO2 emissions equivalent to 1 lakh petrol cars. They will also help avoid about 159 tonnes of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) tailpipe emissions, a known cause of respiratory diseases and premature deaths.

Further, the report has also proposed 10 action points such as creation of a single-window clearance system for easy registration and permitting EVs, as well as commissioning charging and battery swapping infrastructure, attractive financing for EVs through a Government-led interest rate subvention scheme. Others include data solutions, awareness campaigns, and capacity-building programmes.

 

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