In order to curb pollution and save environment in the National Capital, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government on Tuesday released the new draft Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2018 to convert the vehicle registration system to online. Presently, the registrations of vehicles are done manually at the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs). Also, the Delhi Transport Department is aiming to make 25 per cent of the vehicles into electric for which it will provide subsidy on purchase of the electric vehicles.
With the release of the new draft on a public platform to the public opinion for the implementation of the Act, the transport department is aiming to remove key hurdles in registration of vehicles and target 25 percent of all new vehicle registrations to be electric by 2023.
“About 30 percent of ‘particulate pollution’ in winter is caused by vehicles. Rapid adoption of zero-emission electric vehicles is therefore of great importance to Delhi. Recognising the need for a new approach to kick-start electric vehicle adoption, we have drafted a comprehensive Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy with an aim to make Delhi a leader in adoption of electric vehicles. We believe that going electric and breathing better are two sides of the same coin,” said Kailash Gahlot, Transport Minister of Delhi.
The officials said that the main aim of the initiative taken is to control the increasing level of air pollution by strengthening the infrastructure for battery charging and swapping which will provide an access within 3 km range from anywhere in Delhi.
“Further, the additional fees on non-electric vehicles will fund the bulk of corpus created to incentivise the adoption of electric vehicles. This policy will also seek to promote large scale job creation in driving, selling, financing, servicing and charging of electric vehicles,” said a senior official of transport department.
The officer further said that subsidies will also be offered on purchase of electric vehicles including two wheelers, three-wheeler and four wheelers.
As per the data shared by the government, subsidy up to Rs 22,000 will be given on purchase of e-two wheelers to ensure their cost is less than or equal to petrol two wheelers. Further, additional subsidy will also be provided for the models with swappable battery. The government will also give incentive of up to Rs 15,000 for the older vehicles under scrapping incentives.
“It has also been decided that, if auto owners will convert into electric vehicles, they will get a down payment subsidy up to Rs 12,500 with five percent interests. Also, to promote electric vehicles, open permit system will be introduced for e-autos and also Rs 10 cash back offer will be given to the passengers for using e-autos on a trip,” said the official.
The individual e-rickshaw owners will get down payment subsidy up to Rs 20,000 and 5% interest, subsidy of Rs 20,000 will be provided for the first 5000 e-Carriers (Electric goods vehicles) with advanced and swappable batteries. Moreover, full waiver will be given on registration fees, road tax and one time parking fee at municipal Corporation of Delhi.
It may be recalled that the Delhi Cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had taken a policy decision to procure total 1000 fully electric buses under Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) scheme by 2019 to control the increasing level of pollution in the city.