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Delhi’s electric mobility push gathers pace as thousands apply for EV incentives under the 2026 policy. (img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: The Delhi government has received 5,678 applications for incentives under its Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2026 since the scheme came into effect on July 1, signalling strong early interest in the capital's push towards electric mobility. Of the applications received, 1,664 have been processed, with the government disbursing Rs 4.8 crore in incentives so far.
Electric two-wheelers account for the overwhelming majority of applications. Government data shows that 5,621 of the 5,678 applications were submitted by buyers of electric two-wheelers.
Of the claims already processed, 1,648 beneficiaries were two-wheeler buyers who collectively received around Rs 4.6 crore. Another 4,014 applications remain under processing according to officials.
The policy provides a purchase incentive of up to Rs 30,000 for an eligible electric two-wheeler during the first year. The maximum incentive will fall to Rs 20,000 in the second year and Rs 10,000 in the third year.
The new policy also seeks to encourage consumers to replace older, more polluting vehicles with electric alternatives by offering scrapping-linked benefits.
Eligible owners replacing BS-IV or older cars with new EVs can receive a scrapping incentive of up to Rs 1 lakh. For eligible older two-wheelers, the incentive is up to Rs 10,000 when a new electric vehicle is purchased. So far, 41 EV buyers have received incentives under the vehicle-scrapping component, government data showed.
The Delhi EV Policy 2026 is designed not merely as a subsidy programme but as part of a broader transition towards electric mobility in the capital. The policy combines consumer incentives with measures aimed at increasing EV adoption and developing supporting infrastructure.
For electric cars priced up to Rs 30 lakh ex-showroom, the policy provides a complete waiver of road tax and registration charges.
The government has also put in place an online mechanism for processing purchase and scrapping incentives, with applications subject to verification before funds are transferred to eligible beneficiaries.
The policy's implementation is also being accompanied by efforts to expand Delhi's charging network. In the first three months after its launch, 382 charging-station sites had received approval from the Ministry of Heavy Industries, following the identification of potential locations across the capital.
The 382 approved sites were selected after a detailed reassessment of locations identified by the Delhi government. The Revenue Department and Delhi Transport Corporation had earlier identified and aggregated 456 potential sites. These locations were subsequently reassessed at the site level after the Delhi EV Policy 2026 was notified on June 30 and came into effect from July 1.
The reassessment examined factors such as power availability, grid feasibility and land suitability, while also considering the charging requirements of different vehicle categories.
The government has said charging infrastructure will be developed according to the requirements of different vehicle segments, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers.
KPMG has also been onboarded as the Project Management Unit to support the implementation of the charging infrastructure programme. The government is now expected to float a tender for the first tranche of around 160 to 180 high-readiness sites, with the remaining approved locations to be taken up subsequently.
The expansion of charging infrastructure assumes greater importance as the policy introduces phased restrictions on the registration of new internal-combustion vehicles in certain categories.
From January 1, 2027, only electric three-wheelers and N1 light commercial vehicles will be eligible for new registrations in the specified categories. From April 1, 2028, the policy will also require new two-wheelers to be electric.
These deadlines are expected to put additional pressure on the government to ensure that charging infrastructure keeps pace with the growth in EV adoption. Approval of charging sites is only the first step, with the actual rollout, electricity connections, grid readiness and operationalisation of chargers likely to determine how effectively the policy works on the ground.
The expansion of the charging network is expected to involve not only the availability of land but also adequate electricity distribution capacity and supporting grid infrastructure. The public charging rollout is being structured around public land and upstream electrical support to reduce some of these implementation bottlenecks.
As the number of EVs increases, Delhi will also have to manage the additional electricity demand created by charging. Demand forecasting, dynamic load management, time-of-use tariffs, smart charging, renewable energy integration and energy-storage solutions are likely to become increasingly important.
The policy also encourages resident welfare associations and housing societies to facilitate community and private charging facilities. A DISCOM-led single-window mechanism is intended to allow consumers to choose empanelled vendors, obtain EV electricity connections and meters, and schedule charging-point installations.
The rapid growth of EVs will also create a future challenge around the disposal and recycling of lithium-ion batteries, chargers and power electronics.
As older batteries reach the end of their usable life, Delhi will need systems for collection, traceability, producer responsibility and authorised recycling. The recovery of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite is also expected to become increasingly important as the EV ecosystem expands.
While two-wheelers are currently driving applications under the incentive programme, commercial fleets, three-wheelers and N1 light commercial vehicles could become increasingly important as the registration deadlines approach.
For delivery and e-commerce operators in particular, charging downtime, vehicle utilisation and access to reliable public and private charging points will be crucial factors in determining the pace of electrification.
The early application figures suggest that electric two-wheelers are emerging as the principal driver of consumer uptake under the new policy. With thousands of applications still awaiting processing, the pace of incentive disbursal and expansion of charging infrastructure will be closely watched as Delhi attempts to accelerate its transition to electric vehicles.
