Delhi Govt plugs in: Launches EV policy

Delhi government on August 7th, 2020, announced its electric vehicle (EV) policy with the aim to boost economy, create new jobs, and control pollution in the national capital.  The Delhi government expects 25% of the new vehicles registered by 2024 to be EVs as opposed to the 0.2% currently. “With this EV policy, we have two purposes, one to give Delhi’s economy a boost and create job opportunities, and secondly, [to] further reduce pollution levels in the national capital. In the next five years, we hope to have five lakh EVs registered in Delhi,” said Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi in a virtual press meet. Furthermore, he went on to say that the Delhi government is “hopeful and confident that the progressive EV policy would be the talk of the town, not just in India, but worldwide.” As part of the EV policy, the Delhi government will be offering incentives on purchase of EVs. This includes a financial incentive of INR 1.5 Lakhs on EV cars, and INR 30,000 on two-wheelers, autorickshaws, e-ricks and freight vehicles each.  “Currently, the EVs in the market are expensive for common man to make a purchase and we need to promote them. The Delhi government