South Delhi gets its first public electric vehicle charging station

In a bid to build a robust electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, state-run Energy Efficiency Service Ltd (EESL) and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), on December 14, 2019, inaugurated the first electric vehicle public charging station in south Delhi. The charging station has been installed in the SDMC parking area of Greater Kailash-1 N Block market.

EESL has installed the charging station after signing an agreement with the SDMC. This was the first of 75 charging stations to be installed across SDMC areas, as per the agreement. The installation of public charging stations would help in increasing the adoption of EVs in the city. With increasing penetration of EVs, the local emission of pollutants is also expected to reduce, leading to cleaner air, providing several health benefits to the public.

Delhi’s draft e-vehicle policy proposes subsidy on electric two wheelers, autos, rickshaws

In a bid to increase the adoption of environmentally-friendly vehicles, the Delhi government has unveiled a draft electric vehicles policy, which targets electric vehicles to comprise 25 per cent of all new vehicle registrations by 2023

November 28, 2018: The Delhi government, on November 27, 2018, came out with its draft electric vehicles policy, targeting 25 per cent of all new vehicle registrations to be electric by 2023, through subsidy for such autos, rickshaws and two-wheelers, among others. It also recommends the strengthening of infrastructure, to provide battery charging access within a three km range from anywhere in Delhi, while additional fees on non-electric vehicles will fund the bulk of corpus created to incentivise the adoption of electric vehicles. The draft policy, posted on the Transport Department’s website, has been put in the public domain for people to file their objections and suggestions.

Delhi’s transport minister Kailash Gahlot said, around 30 per cent of particulate pollution in winter is caused by vehicles in the city and adopting environmental friendly vehicles, will improve the air quality. “We have drafted a comprehensive policy for Delhi, with an aim to make the city a leader in adoption of electric vehicles. We believe that going electric and breathing better, are two sides of the same coin,” he said in a statement. The draft policy acknowledges that a new approach is required, to kick-start EV adoption in Delhi and seeks to put in place several measures that address key hurdles, besides targeting 25 per cent of all new vehicle registrations to be electric by 2023.

The policy provides for up to Rs 22,000 subsidy on purchase of e-two-wheelers, to ensure cost of commuting comes close to petrol-driven two wheelers. Electric two-wheeler taxis will be allowed to provide last mile connectivity. For e-cabs, it suggests full waiver in registration and cashback of Rs 10 to commuters.

The policy proposes an open permit system for e-autos in Delhi, with subsidy of up to Rs 12,500 and five per cent interest subvention, to promote these vehicles. It also recommends cashback of Rs 10 to commuters using e-autos. For e-rickshaws, the policy recommends subsidy of up to Rs 20,000 and five per cent interest subvention.

Endeavoring to battle high levels of air pollution in the city, the government has also appointed a consultant, to procure a 1,000 e-buses. Currently, the trial of two such buses is being carried out on different routes.

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