Electric two-wheeler sales continue to increase, dominates Delhi`s EV market

Electric two-wheelers are witnessing increased sales numbers in the national capital, with sales accounting for 55% of all such vehicles registered since January, according to official data. In January, 1,760 electric two-wheelers were registered, increasing to 2,383 in February. Until March 14, a total of 1,745 electric two-wheelers have been registered.

According to government data, 10,707 electric vehicles were registered between January and March 14 this year, with 5,888 of them being e-two wheelers (e-bike and e-scooter). The remaining 45 per cent of registered electric vehicles are e-rickshaws, e-car, e-bus, electric light goods carriers, and e-carts.

"The trend shows that the demand for e-bikes and e-scooters is increasing in the city, which is a positive indicator in terms of shifting private transport from vehicles run by fossil fuels to those run on electricity."

"This is also because of the government's dedicated efforts to create necessary charging infrastructure in the city," a government official told PTI requesting anonymity. Data showed that the number of e-cars have also increased in the national capital between January and March 14.

"In January, only 147 electric cars were registered in the city, a number that by the end of February rose to 205. Seventy electric cars were registered till March 14, 2022", the data said.

While only one electric bus was registered in January, the number rose to 12 in February. So far in March, five e-buses were shown registered in the data. The official said that "the spurt in the e-vehicles' sales came after the government announced its EV Policy in August 2020."

The policy talks about incentivising purchasing e-vehicles, especially e-bikes, e-scooters, e-autos, and e-rickshaws. "It provisions for a subsidy, capped at Rs 30,000, on the purchase of e-two wheelers and e-rickshaws. The subsidy on e-cars has been stopped", the official said.

The EV policy also envisages a charging station every 3 kms in the city. The official said that "in 2021, the share of electric vehicles, which also includes e-rickshaws, was slightly above 5 per cent of the total vehicles registered in the city."

"The figures of the initial two-and-a-half months of 2022 are encouraging. We now hope that the share of e-vehicles in the city's total vehicle registration will further go up," the official said.

According to the government data, 1,022 e-rickshaws were registered in January, and 1,172 in February.

As many as 586 e-rickshaws have been registered in March so far, the data showed. To boost electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the city, the Delhi government on Monday announced the setting up of 100 e-vehicle charging stations across "prime locations" by June 27.

These 100 charging stations will have 500 charging points. The charge for using the station facility will be Rs 2 per unit.

Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain said that out of these 100, nearly 70 will be set up at metro stations. Officials said that about 400 government and private-owned charging points currently exist in the city.

The Delhi government had also launched an online portal, 'My EV', for the purchase and registration of electric autos in the city. Officials said that "this portal will provide a five per cent interest rebate on the purchase of e-autos on loans under the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy."

The rebate will provide an additional incentive of Rs 25,000 over the Rs 30,000 incentive granted in form of subsidy.

(With inputs from PTI)

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