Delhi reserves 4,000 fresh permits for e-autos to boost its EV policy
Delhi government has offered subsidies to the tune of Rs 5,000 per kWh on electric two-wheelers.
In a push for cleaner air and lesser dependency on motor vehicles, the Delhi transport department will be reserving 4,000 fresh permits for electric auto-rickshaws registered in the national capital, according to a report in The Hindustan Times reported.
In addition to this, there will be fast charging points or battery swapping points to aid the charging of electric vehicles (EV) at the CNG pumps in Delhi.
Delhi’s push for electric vehicles
Delhi government led by Arvind Kejriwal announced its electric vehicle policy in August 2020 to promote the use of EVs. The announcement to reserve 4,000 fresh permits for electric auto-rickshaws will give a boost to the EV policy that was impeded due to the Covid-19 pandemic, high cost of vehicles, and insufficient supporting infrastructure.
Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said that electric four-wheelers are still costly and that’s why two sectors have been identified to make them cost-effective with the government subsidies. The two sectors include bikes and three-wheelers in the EV segment.
He also said that the government has approved a proposal to give at least 4,000 auto rickshaw permits to drivers who own an e-auto. Applications will be open for these over the next two weeks.
A CNG auto-rickshaw costs between Rs 2-2.27 lakhs in Delhi, while its electric variant costs Rs 1.5 lakh, post-subsidy. Over 13,963 EVs have been registered in Delhi since August 2020, out of which 8,012 received the incentives given by the Delhi government. Similarly, 4,782 out of the total 8,012 EVs were new e-rickshaws that got the subsidies as per the newly announced EV Policy.
On the other hand 1,340, electric two-wheelers also received the benefits. The number of electric cars registered since August 2020 stood at 610.
Delhi offers subsidies to the tune of Rs 5,000 per kWh on electric two-wheelers with a maximum limit of Rs 30,000. It also offers the same for electric three-wheelers and the subsidy on electric cars stands at Rs 1.5 lakh.
Incentives for EVs in other states
India’s EV sector is still in a very nascent stage and accounts for just 1.3% of the total vehicle sales in India. In FY21, Indians bought 1.86 crore petrol and diesel vehicles, while only 2.38 lakh EVs were sold.
Maharashtra recently rolled out its EV Policy and is providing an incentive of Rs 5,000 per kWh for all vehicle classes and an early bird discount of the same value. Customers can get subsidies ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20 lakh depending on the vehicle. Gujarat is currently offering the highest subsidy of Rs 10,000 per kWh, and subsidies range from Rs 20,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh. It has also waived off the registration fees for EVs.
An EV buyer in Karnataka is eligible for subsidy under the Central government’s FAME scheme which is around Rs 15,000 per kWh and the state has no subsidy offerings like Gujarat, Maharashtra, or Delhi. Telangana currently offers 100% exemption from road tax and registration of EVs across all segments. Just like Karnataka, it has nothing to offer in terms of subsidies.