New Delhi, March 11 Under its new EV policy, the Delhi government may mandate that 30 per cent of all school buses switch to electric by the end of March 2030, according to a government document.
According to the document, under the new EV policy, which is likely to be tabled during the upcoming session of the Delhi Assembly, complete exemptions from road tax and registration fees may also be granted for all electric cars priced below Rs 30 lakh.
The Delhi government's education department will ensure the implementation of the school bus electrification scheme.
"After the notification of the EV policy, 10 per cent of the school bus fleet will be electric; in three years, 20 per cent, and by March 31, 2030, 30 per cent of the entire fleet will be electric," the document said.
This directive will apply to the entire school bus fleet, whether owned, leased, or hired by schools. Furthermore, the entire fleet of government vehicles will also be electrified as soon as the policy is notified.
The new policy will also mandate that, from January 1, 2027, only electric three-wheelers will be allowed new registration in the city, and only electric two-wheelers will be permitted new registration from April 1, 2028.
To encourage the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), the new policy will provide exemptions from road tax and registration fees.
"All electric vehicles registered in Delhi will be granted a 100 per cent exemption from road tax and registration fees until March 31, 2030. All electric cars with an ex-factory price of below or equal to 30 lakhs registered in Delhi will be granted a 100 per cent exemption from road tax and registration fees until March 31, 2030," another proposal stated.
Electric cars with an ex-factory price above 30 lakhs will not be eligible for exemptions from road tax and registration fees. This move is likely to bring down vehicle prices.
As per the plan, to manage the battery waste generated by the large number of electric vehicles, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will be responsible for setting up battery collection centers across the city.
"The DPCC will, through an appropriate policy framework, facilitate the deployment of battery collection centers across Delhi under a public-private partnership model, in collaboration with authorized recyclers and other eligible entities, to enable convenient, accessible, and environmentally sound collection of waste batteries," the document added.
Under the new EV policy, the DPCC may also notify a set of standard operating procedures for equipment manufacturers, to ensure the safe collection, storage, transportation, and transfer of waste batteries to authorized recyclers, or in compliance with existing waste management rules.