The e-vehicles policy of Delhi, notified in 2020, targets a 25% electrification of all new vehicle registrations by 2024. “This policy also aims to register a minimum of 50% of all new stage carriage buses as e-buses, including both city fleet and fleet for last mile connectivity. All delivery service providers shall convert 50% of their fleet operating in Delhi to electric by 2023 and 100% by 2025,” said the CAQM report published on Wednesday.
The policy in Uttar Pradesh, notified in 2019, wants “nearly 10 lakh EVs, combined across all segments of vehicles” by 2024. “There is no vehicle segment-wise target for the state to support this roll-out,” notes CAQM.
In contrast to Delhi and UP, Haryana’s draft policy does not have an overall electrification target but only aims to convert 100% of the buses owned by the state transport undertakings to e-buses (battery e-vehicles or fuel cell e-vehicles) by 2029, with the first phase of 100% conversion of the bus fleet in Gurgaon and Faridabad by 2024.
The policy in Rajasthan, notified last year, also has targets, neither for the overall fleet nor for vehicle segments. The policy recommends only a lump sum as an incentive for EV buyers, the amount depending on the battery capacity of the vehicle.
CAQM’s report said vehicle electrification targets for NCR in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP need to be set in terms of the percentage of the new vehicle sales to be achieved by the end of the plan period while targeting total e-vehicles in particular categories.
Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment, and a member of the expert group involved in preparing the new Delhi policy said, “The EV policies of the NCR state governments may vary, but have several common elements. It is necessary that all states set time-bound fleet electrification targets and adopt a more harmonized and robust approach towards incentive structures and charging infrastructure with a committed funding strategy to build scale quickly.”
CAQM’s policy document said the new generation transformation awaiting the motor vehicles sector was large-scale electrification to achieve zero tailpipe emissions with battery-operated vehicles. “On the basis of lifecycle emissions, it is estimated that tailpipe emissions account for as much as 65-80% of automobile emissions. According to an estimate of NITI Aayog, despite India’s current energy mix, lifetime emissions from electric vehicles today are 19-34% lower than internal combustion engines,” said the report.
The policy unveiled on Wednesday mandates phasing out of diesel autos in Gurugram, Faridabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad by December 31, 2024. The autos will be gradually moved out of service in the remaining districts of the national capital region by December 31, 2026.