Delhi’s 2020 EV policy aimed for 25% new vehicle registrations by 2024. Adoption crossed 12%, but this has not translated into cleaner winter air
Electric vehicles alone cannot solve Delhi’s pollution problem, especially when uptake is concentrated in two and three-wheelers with lower emissions
About 37% of vehicles in the Delhi-NCR fleet run on BS-III or older engines, which contribute disproportionately to winter smog levels
EVs were added without removing the dirtiest vehicles. Weak enforcement of end-of-life norms has diluted the pollution benefits of EV adoption
Air pollution spans the NCR. Aligning Delhi’s EV policy with neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh can deliver stronger, region-wide gains
Subsidies should target high-mileage fleets and diesel replacement, alongside tougher disincentives to ensure clean vehicles replace polluting ones