Residents or recent visitors to Delhi may have noticed a sight difficult to find on the streets of other Indian cities — a green number plate on vehicles. As the onset of winter in Delhi and the surrounding states brings with it yet another episode of record AQI levels and narratives of gloom and doom, there is a glimmer of hope after all. The share of electric vehicles (EVs) in Delhi has risen sharply to 9 per cent in the quarter ending November 2021 as against the all-India average of 1.6 per cent, making Delhi the leading state in India in EV penetration.
Several studies have shown that vehicular emissions are among the most significant sources of pollution in Delhi, contributing to a third of all PM 2.5 emissions and over 80 percent of CO2 and NOx emissions — the other two toxic pollutants. Experts agree that a reduction in vehicular pollution will require a mass shift of people to EVs, apart from greater adoption of public and non-motorised transport.
The policy push for EVs began when the Government of India launched the FAME-1 (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of E-vehicles) scheme to subsidise EVs in April 2015, which was extended in the modified avatar of FAME-2 in April 2019 with a lofty budget outlay of Rs 10,000 crore. The experience, however, has been anything but sober. The central government has barely been able to spend 6 per cent of the FAME-2 budget with the resultant penetration of EVs reaching only 1.6 per cent nationally. So how did Delhi manage to buck this trend?
It was barely a year ago, in August 2020, when Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced Delhi''s EV policy and declared the most ambitious target any Indian state has set — 25 per cent share of EVs by 2024, from a baseline of 1.2 per cent in 2019-20. Born out of the desire to lead by example in finding long-term solutions to the pollution crisis that engulfs much of northern India, the AAP government put out a comprehensive policy framework that — for the first time for any state EV policy in India — focused squarely on demand generation (rather than attracting manufacturing investment) and targeted incentives at the most polluting vehicle segments — two- and three-wheelers.
Fifteen months later, Delhi has managed to turned the tide on EVs by demonstrating a firm political will to address the three key barriers that have plagued the adoption of EVs across India.
The third barrier was the low public awareness of EVs and its benefits — both economic and environmental. This is where the eight-week Switch Delhi campaign, launched by CM Arvind Kejriwal earlier this year, proved to be a milestone. Delhi became the first state in India to launch such a widespread campaign comprising print, radio, TV ads and targeted outreach to RWAs, youth and corporates. The campaign created a huge buzz on EVs not just in Delhi but the entire country with celebrities such as Kamal Hasan, and the former Environment Minister of Norway, Erik Solheim, taking note.
The experience of Delhi''s EV policy shows that if there is a political will to fight pollution, creating comprehensive reform roadmaps and following them up with diligent implementation, the "Yuddh Pradushan ke Viruddh" can be won. But this war cannot be won by Delhi alone — which occupies barely 3 per cent of the land area of NCR. Delhi has shown the way, but unless all NCR states show a similar resolve and emulate the actions Delhi has taken to transition to clean mobility, we will be cursed to gloom and doom scenarios for years to come.
November 28, 2024e-Paper
Addressing a press conference, Ms. Atishi said the move is part of her government''s effort to tackle the city''s worsening air quality and encourage the adoption of clean modes of transportation.
The Chief Minister said that electric vehicle registrations in Delhi have risen from 4% in 2019-20 to 12% now, the highest in the country.
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.
The TOI City Desk is an indefatigable team of journalists dedicated to bringing you the pulse of cities from across the nation, all day and all night. Our mission is to curate, report, and deliver city news that matters to readers of The Times of India. With a keen focus on urban life, governance, culture, and local issues, we provide a comprehensive view of the ever-evolving cityscapes. Our team works tirelessly to keep readers informed about the latest developments, ensuring that they are connected to the heartbeat of cities across India, right when it happens. The TOI City Desk is a trusted source for staying in touch with the local stories that shape your world.Read More
Our Privacy Policy has been revised. Please review updated '';P+=''Privacy Policy Here'';P+=''
About Electric vehicle adoption new delhi
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Electric vehicle adoption new delhi have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Electric vehicle adoption new delhi for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Electric vehicle adoption new delhi featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
Related Contents
