Delhi aims to double its electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the current financial year.

The strategies detailed in the outcome budget document, shared by the Delhi government's planning department, indicate a determined effort to revolutionize the electric vehicle (EV) landscape in the capital city. Here is a broad overview of the government's initiatives:

The Delhi government has set an ambitious target of doubling the number of electric vehicles (EVs) registered within the city by the end of the current financial year.

The detailed document outlines a series of targets to be achieved by the 22 state government departments by the end of the financial year. The transport department, in particular, is dedicated to increasing the total number of EVs registered in Delhi to an impressive 223,988 by March 2024. This represents a substantial increase from the 111,994 EVs registered during the 2022-23 financial period.

Result: A key objective of the budget is to significantly increase the share of EVs among newly registered vehicles in Delhi. The government aims to achieve 20.94% stake by the end of March 2024, while the figure was recorded at 10.47% in the last financial year.

The government aims to increase the share of electric cars and two-wheelers in the total registered vehicles in Delhi by the end of the current financial year.

In the pursuit of a more efficient transport system, the Transport Department has launched a series of innovative schemes and projects. These efforts are in line with the broader goal of reducing air pollution through widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

The outcome budget document outlines the existence of a comprehensive electric vehicle policy in Delhi. The policy includes measures such as the introduction of electric buses and subsidies to encourage residents to shift to electric vehicles.

A substantial budget allocation of ₹120 crore has been specified for the electric vehicle policy during the financial year 2023-24. Additionally, ₹90 lakh has been allocated for pollution control efforts, aimed at ensuring that all vehicles in Delhi have a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate. Currently, about 67% of two-wheelers and 83.5% of four-wheelers in the city have valid PUC certificates.

In view of the increasing demand for EVs, the government intends to strengthen the charging infrastructure by increasing the number of public charging points from the existing 2,734 to 5,468.

These initiatives are an important component of the government's comprehensive strategy to tackle air pollution in Delhi by reducing vehicle emissions, which is a serious concern for the city's residents.

To accelerate the transition to electric mobility, the Delhi government is actively providing subsidies and incentives, with the aim of having 25% of all new vehicle registrations in Delhi be electric vehicles by 2025.

While experts appreciate these initiatives, they stress the need to sustain and expand efforts to increase EV adoption not only within Delhi but across the country.

In short, the Delhi government's multifaceted approach underlines its unwavering commitment to pursue electric mobility as a transformative solution to tackle pollution and enhance air quality in the city.