Delhi’s EV policy changes the engine, not the system

• Delhi’s new Electric Vehicle (EV) policy successfully targets tailpipe emissions but fails to address underlying issues like car dependence and the socioeconomic burden on workers.
• A transition to clean energy must move beyond technological substitution to include systemic shifts toward public transport, equitable resource distribution, and labor protections.
• The policy risks maintaining an unequal urban mobility landscape by prioritizing private vehicle ownership and failing to mitigate hidden environmental costs.

Delhi’s EV Policy Overview

• The policy was notified on June 30, 2026, and became effective July 1, 2026.
• Mandates: New registrations for three-wheelers and N1-category light goods vehicles become EV-only from January 2027, extending to two-wheelers in April 2028.
• Incentives: Up to ₹30,000 for two-wheelers and ₹50,000 for e-autos; cars under ₹3 million receive tax/fee exemptions, with ₹100,000 for scrapping old vehicles.
• Infrastructure: Includes provisions for charging stations, battery recycling, and government-run electric buses.

Environmental and Labor Concerns

• Energy Displacement: As India’s power grid relies on coal for ~70% of electricity, urban tailpipe pollution is shifted to mining regions and power plant settlements.
• Supply Chain Justice: Battery material production (lithium/copper) is concentrated in water-stressed regions, leading to local ecological and social conflicts.
• Worker Burdens: Gig economy workers face debt, high interest, charging downtime, and income losses during the transition, with little support from platform companies.
• Infrastructure Reliability: An IEEFA study found 84% of sampled public chargers in Delhi were non-functional due to theft and poor maintenance.

Towards Just Mobility

• Beyond Improvement: The policy focuses on “improving” vehicle types but neglects the “avoid and shift” framework—reducing total motorised travel and prioritizing public transport, walking, and cycling.
• Socioeconomic Equity: Assistance must be linked to livelihood needs, requiring platforms to share conversion costs and providing social protections for gig workers.
• Comprehensive Tracking: Success should be measured by metrics beyond registrations, such as vehicle kilometers traveled, mode share, charging uptime, and worker outcomes.