In EV Policy, electrification roadmap: Cars next after 3- & 2-wheelers, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• The Delhi government notified the Delhi Electric Vehicles Policy 2026 on July 1, introducing electrification mandates.
• The policy includes an intent to introduce electrification mandates for four-wheelers in the future.
• New registrations of non-electric three-wheelers will be stopped from January 1, 2027.
• New registrations of non-electric two-wheelers will be stopped from April 1, 2028.
• Delhi is the first city in India to implement sweeping mandates to halt the registration of new petrol and diesel two- and three-wheelers.

Detailed Insights:

• The intent for four-wheeler mandates was incorporated into the final Delhi Electric Vehicles Policy 2026 after not featuring in the draft.
• The policy aims to disincentivize polluting vehicles that use inefficient fuels.
• Industry players had opposed the two-wheeler mandate, citing a lack of electric options and India's dependence on China for batteries.
• Concerns were also raised about the environmental gains, given that approximately 71% of India's electricity is generated from coal-based power.
• Currently, electric four-wheelers account for about 11% of Delhi's total four-wheeler fleet.
• The policy offers a scrapping incentive of Rs 1 lakh for first-time applicants who scrap an existing Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle and purchase an electric car.
• Experts from the International Council on Clean Transport (ICCT) suggest that Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandates are crucial for large-scale fleet transition.
• Delhi's mobility policies historically influence other states, potentially leading to more aggressive EV policies nationwide.
• Two-wheelers constitute around 67% of Delhi's total vehicle stock, making their electrification vital for reducing vehicular emissions.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Electrification Mandates: Government regulations requiring a certain percentage or all new vehicle registrations to be electric by a specific date.
• Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Vehicles: Vehicles that generate power by burning fuel (like petrol or diesel) inside an engine.
• Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates: Policies requiring automakers to sell a certain percentage of vehicles that produce no tailpipe emissions.
• Scrapping Incentive: A financial benefit offered by the government to encourage vehicle owners to decommission old, polluting vehicles.