India’s capital city, Delhi, is taking a bold approach to reducing air pollution by promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs). The city has set a target to make the vast majority of newly registered vehicles electric by 2027.

Delhi’s Electric Vehicle Policy

Delhi’s new policy, which came into effect on July 1, provides subsidies and waivers on registration fees and road taxes for EV buyers. It also offers incentives to scrap old gas-powered vehicles. The policy targets two- and three-wheelers, which make up nearly 70% of vehicles in the city, and aims to make them electric by 2027 and 2028, respectively.

While the policy is ambitious, some experts say that the lack of charging infrastructure is a major hurdle. "Charging facilities are not up to the mark yet," said Shyam Singh, a marketing executive who owns an electric scooter. "It is hard for long-distance drivers to switch to EVs because the current battery range is not enough."

Benefits of Electric Vehicles

The shift to electric vehicles is expected to significantly reduce air pollution in Delhi, which is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Vehicles cause about a quarter of air pollution in the National Capital Region surrounding Delhi, and two- and three-wheelers are responsible for nearly half of vehicular pollution in the city.

Energy experts say that the policy is a significant step towards improving the city’s air quality and reducing pollution. "Delhi’s EV policy is one of the most ambitious policies that I have seen in India," said Jaideep Saraswat, who leads work on clean power and electric mobility at the Vasudha Foundation.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.