Watt next? EV charging station at every 5-km stretch

Time of India

24-05-2025

Delhi government's next electric vehicle policy will focus on strengthening the city's charging infrastructure, job creation and faster adoption of
green mobility
. Sources in the transport department said that the next policy was likely to target setting up low-cost, fast
EV charging stations
at every five-kilometre stretch across the capital.
The upcoming policy, expected to replace the current one, which was extended until mid-July, also aims to promote
battery swapping facilities
and offer attractive incentives for retrofitting EV kits and scrapping older vehicles.
An official said that govt was also planning an EV corridor in the next policy. He added that the corridor could be alongside Outer Ring Road, considering its status as one of the city's most congested thoroughfares linking key destinations. He further stated that the charging stations would be strategically positioned beneath flyovers and on vacant plots to avoid disrupting traffic flow. The design will incorporate entry and exit points carefully planned to ensure minimal disturbance to motorists.
The official said that the idea was to brand this as a route where finding an EV charging station would be easy. This will offset the range anxiety seen among new EV buyers. "This stretch also has several residential areas along its circular length."
Officials said the revamped EV strategy would prioritise employment generation, targeting the creation of at least 20,000 jobs. "The establishment of a dense charging network and battery swapping ecosystem will be at the heart of this job drive," a senior govt official said.
Since its introduction in 2020, Delhi's EV policy has played a pivotal role in pushing the city towards cleaner transport. It offers a wide range of subsidies, including ₹5,000 per kWh of battery capacity (up to ₹30,000) for electric two-wheelers, ₹30,000 for e-rickshaws and e-carts, and ₹5,500 or 25 per cent of the cost for e-cycles. The current EV policy, introduced in 2020, has received multiple extensions, the latest one for three months after April 15, 2025. The policy offers a range of incentives, including a 25 per cent purchase subsidy (up to ₹5,500) for e-cycles, ₹30,000 for e-rickshaws and e-carts, ₹5,000 per kWh of battery capacity (capped at ₹30,000) for two-wheelers, and ₹30,000 for e-light commercial vehicles.
Officials said that looking ahead to 2027, govt was aiming to achieve 95 per cent electric vehicles among all new registrations, leading to a substantial reduction in urban pollution levels. The plan focuses on establishing comprehensive accessibility to charging stations and battery exchange facilities across the region.
Recently, Delhi govt had also withdrawn a recommendation of the draft EV policy, which suggested the elimination of CNG autos and fossil fuel-powered two-wheelers in the coming years. The draft proposal suggested phasing out CNG-powered three-wheelers and replacing them with electric autos by Aug 2025. Similarly, it also suggested that petrol, diesel, and CNG two-wheeler registration won't be allowed from Aug 15, 2026. However, transport minister Pankaj Singh said there was no plan to make it binding for CNG autos to shift to electric or put any restriction on bikes.