One of the primary forms of commute in Delhi, the green and yellow auto rickshaws, will soon be off the road, as the government is looking to phase them out as per the new EV 2.0 policy. According to the new policy, which is expected to come into effect soon, no new CNG autos can be registered after August 15. The policy also affects new two-wheeler registration and owning multiple cars.
New EV 2.0 policy — What does it state?
According to the new policy, no new CNG auto can be registered after August 15, while there will be no renewals also. All new renewals and permits will be allowed for electric autos only. With the favour of a court order in November 2011, there are currently one lakh auto rickshaws in Delhi.
The new draft further mandates that all CNG autos over 10 years old should be replaced or retrofitted with an EV powertrain. The move is to mass transition public transport to a cleaner system. The draft also recommends phasing out all petrol diesel, and CNG-powered garbage vehicles. These will all be converted to EVs by the end of 2027. In a bold move, the proposal also states that new petrol, diesel, or CNG-powered two-wheelers will also be phased out by August 2026.
Four-wheeler owners are also under the scanner with the new policy, as it states that people who own two cars already can purchase an EV only. The above rules will come into effect only after the policy is formally notified. As per officials, the policy may see a few changes, especially regarding two-wheelers, and the aim of the new EV 2.0 policy is to reduce air pollution in Delhi.