New Delhi

The Delhi Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, which expired on December 31st of the previous year, is yet to be extended, leaving customers in a state of uncertainty as they are unable to receive government subsidies on the purchase of a new electric vehicle. The policy was initially intended to be extended until June of this year, according to officials.

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According to an official, although the policy extension was approved by the Delhi cabinet in March, it could not be implemented due to the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct on March 16th, following the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections.

The original EV Policy was notified on August 7, 2020, with a duration of three years, and was subsequently extended until December 31, 2023.

"The Electric Vehicle Policy 2.0 is still being formulated, and there are some points that still need to be finalised. The existing policy will be extended, and the file should be cleared within a week," stated another official.

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Last year, the transport department and Delhi Electric Vehicle Cell conducted a stakeholder consultation as part of the process of drafting a revised 'Delhi EV Policy 2.0'.

Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot had previously informed PTI that the Electric Vehicle Policy 2.0 would consider incentivizing the retrofitting of vehicles, considering the high costs involved.

"People want to convert their IC (internal combustion) engines into electric ones. The process is expensive. For converting a normal Gypsy, it takes almost INR 5-6 lakh, which is on the higher side," he had stated.

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The delay in extending the policy has left customers in a precarious situation, unable to benefit from government subsidies when purchasing a new electric vehicle. This uncertainty underscores the importance of timely policy implementation and the need for a comprehensive framework to support the adoption of electric vehicles in the region.