Governments across the globe, including the Indian government, are focusing on incentivizing electric two-wheeler ownership in a bid to move towards green technology. To achieve this goal in India, both central and state governments have developed electric two-wheeler ownership frameworks and customized laws to promote the adoption of electric two-wheelers.
The Government of India is keen on making major gains in its program to switch to electric vehicles by 2030. And one of the ways of doing this is via schemes such as the FAME II incentives which were introduced by the central government to substantially lower the on-road price of an electric two-wheeler in India.
Incentivizing electric two-wheeler ownership can galvanize electric vehicle adoption
At present, out of the total vehicle sales in India, electric vehicles barely account for 1.3 percent. In the FY21, only 2.38 lakh electric vehicles were sold – this compared to 1.86 Cr. petrol and diesel vehicles. And this is despite the massive push from the central government for electric vehicle adoption.
In most cases, the reason for customer hesitation in purchasing electric vehicles, including electric two-wheelers, is the lack of awareness when it comes to cost benefits and savings as well as fears over the inadequate number of charging stations.
The situation, however, is slowly changing as state governments are also pushing for the switch to electric vehicle adoption by introducing incentives that effectively reduce ownership costs for customers as well as for electric vehicle manufacturers.
In fact, at present, more than 13 states across the country have introduced and made changes to their electric vehicle policies. This list also includes the Delhi government.
One such incentive from the central government includes pushing up the financial incentive on electric two-wheelers from Rs.10000 to Rs. 15000/kWh. This financial incentive, however, is subject to a limit of 40% of the total cost.
This central government financial incentive can be availed by electric two-wheeler buyers from across the country. The governments in Maharashtra, Delhi, and Gujarat have further incentivized this scheme by offering subsidies in addition to Rs.15000/kWh subsidy offered by the central government.
Delhi Government’s financial incentives for buying electric vehicles
The land-locked capital has seen a year-on-year increase in pollution levels. Vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, crop-burning, and a host of other causes of pollution have rendered the air in Delhi almost unbreathable. One of the options before the Delhi government to reduce air pollution is pushing for green fuels and technology. For this reason, pushing for and incentivizing electric two-wheeler ownership is of critical focus for the government.
Currently, the government offers a 15% subsidy on purchasing electric cars and electric two-wheelers in Delhi. Furthermore, customers who purchase electric vehicles can also avail of additional benefits which include zero VAT and a 50% reduction in road tax.
The offered subsidies are directly transferred to the bank accounts of the customer within 2 months from the date of purchasing the electric vehicle.
The subsidy scheme offered by the government has benefited around 45000 people who purchased electric two-wheelers.
In addition to the cost benefits, electric two-wheeler owners have also benefited from a 60% drop in running costs. The cost of upkeep of electric two-wheelers is also substantially lower compared to petrol and diesel costs.
Not to mention the fact that electric two-wheelers run on green technology which translates into a 90% drop in pollution when compared to two-wheelers that run on petrol.
Electric vehicles eligible under the Delhi Government’s electric policy
Under the Delhi government’s electric vehicle policy, a number of two-wheelers, three-wheeler, and four-wheeler electric vehicles fall under the subsidized category. So you have a wide range of electric two-wheeler options to choose from that meet your personal criteria.
Once you fill in the credentials and click on login, you will be able to access the user dashboard. Here you need to fill in the electric vehicle model along with other necessary details. Once this step is complete, you can avail your electric vehicle subsidy that is specific to Delhi.
You can visit Electric Vehicles models eligible under the Delhi EV Policy to select an electric two-wheeler model of your choice.
How to apply for electric two-wheelers in Delhi
In order to push for electric vehicle drive, including electric two-wheelers, the Delhi government has simplified the process so you can now apply for your electric vehicle subsidy online.
Here is what you need to do;
- Visit the official Electric Vehicle Delhi portal and click on the login button.
- Enter the username and password that you received when you purchased your electric vehicle from the dealer.
- Go ahead and complete the subsidy claim process.
- Once this is done, you will then receive an SMS.
- Your electric vehicle subsidy amount will be transferred directly to your bank account.
Important Note – In case you have any issues regarding the process of applying for your electric vehicle subsidy, you can visit the feedback and queries page.
Approved electric vehicle dealers in Delhi
A number of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) manufacture electric vehicles, including electric two-wheelers as per government specifications. A number of these government-approved dealers are can be easily located across the city.
To find an electric two-wheeler dealer near your place, you can visit Electric Vehicle Dealers in Delhi.
Public charging stations in Delhi
Since one of the concerns of customers is the availability of charging stations for their electric vehicles, here is a comprehensive list of approved public charging stations spread across the national capital region.
Find a public charging station for your electric two-wheeler by visiting Public Charging Stations in Delhi.
Delhi Government’s electric vehicle policy
The Delhi government introduced its electric vehicle policy in 2020. However, with an eye on the future changes to the climate and the urgency in making every effort to control current pollution levels in the capital, the Delhi government is working on introducing a few changes to its electric vehicle policy.
The current electric vehicle policy of the Delhi government is among the most comprehensive policies in the country.
Consider the following;
- Under the electric vehicle policy, the Delhi government offers Rs.5000/kWh subsidy on electric two-wheelers. This is subject to Rs. 3000 maximum limit.
- The electric scooters currently available in the country have a battery capacity of 2-3 kWh. This amounts to a maximum subsidy of Rs.15000.
- Similar to the government of Maharashtra, the Delhi government also offers scrapping incentives within the bracket of Rs 5000-7000.
- Customers can also gain from waiver of road tax and registration charges on electric vehicles.
In Conclusion
State govt across the country are now squarely throwing their weight behind green technology adoption, including the switch from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles. Two-wheelers dominate not just urban cities but are widely used in rural areas across the country. The switch to electric two-wheelers can deliver fantastic cost and maintenance benefits to customers in addition to helping control rising pollution levels. A country-wide adoption of electric vehicles can lead to cleaner air quality across cities and villages in the country.
Given these factors, the central and state governments are now pushing for electric vehicle adoption while working on improving charging infrastructure and facilities across the country.
