Delhi EV policy: Only electric two-wheelers to be registered from April 1, 2028

The Delhi government has approved its new EV Policy, mandating that only electric two-wheelers can be newly registered from April 1, 2028.

The Delhi government has approved the new electric vehicle policy that will fundamentally reshape the city's two-wheeler market over the next few years. Under the Delhi EV Policy 2.0, registration of new petrol and CNG-powered two-wheelers will end from April 1, 2028, with only electric two-wheelers permitted to be registered thereafter.

The policy, approved by the Delhi Cabinet, will come into force on July 1, 2026, and remain valid until March 31, 2030. It is aimed at accelerating the adoption of zero-emission vehicles while addressing the capital's persistent air pollution concerns.

The transition, however, will be phased. Electric autorickshaws and N1 category goods carriers face the first deadline, as only electric models in these segments will be eligible for registration from January 1, 2027. Two-wheelers will follow from April 2028, marking one of the most significant policy interventions for India's largest two-wheeler market.

To encourage buyers to make the switch before the deadline, the government has announced financial incentives for electric two-wheelers. Buyers will receive a subsidy of Rs 30,000 in the first year of the policy, Rs 20,000 in the second year and Rs 10,000 in the third year. Incentives for other vehicle categories have also been announced, including up to Rs 50,000 for electric three-wheelers and up to Rs 1 lakh for electric N1 goods vehicles.

The policy also introduces scrappage incentives for owners replacing older internal combustion engine vehicles with electric alternatives. Owners of BS-IV or older four-wheelers can avail a scrappage incentive of up to Rs 1 lakh when purchasing a new electric vehicle, while incentives across other vehicle segments range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1 lakh. The government said all eligible incentives will be credited directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts.

Beyond purchase subsidies, the policy places considerable emphasis on expanding charging infrastructure. Delhi plans to install over 32,000 public charging points across the city by the end of the policy period. The government has also identified land for charging stations and plans to launch a dedicated online portal to streamline incentive applications.

Electric passenger vehicles have also received a boost under the new policy. Battery electric cars priced up to Rs 30 lakh will be exempt from road tax and registration charges, reducing their upfront ownership cost. However, the policy does not extend incentives to hybrid vehicles, maintaining its focus exclusively on fully electric mobility.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government expects the policy to generate investments and economic benefits worth around Rs 15,000 crore over the next four years. Of this, nearly Rs 7,000 crore has been earmarked for purchase incentives, while around Rs 8,000 crore will be invested in charging infrastructure and tax concessions.

With the April 1, 2028 deadline now officially in place, manufacturers, dealers and consumers have just under two years to prepare for a market where every newly registered two-wheeler in Delhi will have to be electric, making the capital one of the first major Indian cities to mandate an all-electric future for new two-wheeler registrations.

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