Delhi has introduced EV Policy 2.0 to phase out new petrol and CNG auto-rickshaws by January 2027 and new petrol two-wheelers by April 2028, with the goal of making the capital pollution-free by March 2030 through financial incentives and expanded charging infrastructure.
Environment Pulse Desk: The Delhi government is moving ahead with an ambitious electric mobility plan aimed at reducing vehicle emissions and improving the capital’s air quality.
Under its Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2.0, the government has decided to gradually stop the registration of new petrol-powered auto-rickshaws, scooters and motorcycles.
The policy, approved by the Delhi Cabinet in June and implemented from July 1, 2026, sets out a phased transition towards electric mobility. From January 1, 2027, new registrations of petrol and CNG auto-rickshaws will be discontinued.
Only electric three-wheelers, including e-rickshaws and e-autos, along with specified light commercial vehicles, will be eligible for registration under the new framework. The next major phase will begin on April 1, 2028, when newly registered two-wheelers in Delhi will have to be electric.
This will effectively bring an end to the registration of new petrol-powered scooters and motorcycles in the capital. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has presented the policy as a key component of the government’s effort to make Delhi pollution-free by March 31, 2030.
The government has proposed an investment of around ₹15,000 crore towards EV incentives, subsidies and charging infrastructure. The plan also includes expanding the network of public charging facilities across the city. Consumers purchasing electric two- and three-wheelers will be eligible for financial incentives, while additional benefits will be available for scrapping older vehicles.
The measures are intended to reduce the cost gap between conventional vehicles and EVs and encourage faster adoption of electric mobility. Transport remains one of the important contributors to Delhi’s air pollution. Two-wheelers, three-wheelers and other road vehicles form a substantial share of the city’s vehicle fleet and contribute significantly to emissions.
Environmental experts have described the proposed phase-out of new internal-combustion-engine two- and three-wheelers as a potentially significant step towards tackling the capital’s persistent air pollution. The policy, however, does not immediately remove existing petrol scooters, motorcycles or auto-rickshaws from Delhi’s roads.
Vehicles registered before the respective deadlines can continue to operate, subject to existing end-of-life regulations and other pollution-control rules. Petrol vehicles generally face a 15-year registration limit in Delhi, while diesel vehicles are subject to a 10-year limit. The transition has received support from environmental groups, particularly because the policy places emphasis on fully electric vehicles rather than relying primarily on hybrid technology.
At the same time, questions remain over whether charging infrastructure, battery supply chains and vehicle affordability can keep pace with the scale of the proposed transition. For consumers and manufacturers, the coming years will therefore be crucial. Delhi’s policy represents a major attempt to shift one of India’s largest urban transport markets away from fossil-fuel-powered two- and three-wheelers, while testing whether infrastructure and consumer demand can support a rapid move towards electric mobility.
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