Delhi EV Policy 2026 Approved: New Petrol Two-Wheelers Banned From April 2028
EV incentives today, petrol registration ban tomorrow!
Quick News Highlights:
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New petrol- and CNG-powered two-wheelers cannot be registered in Delhi from April 1, 2028
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Electric two-wheelers to get purchase incentives of up to Rs 30,000
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Existing petrol-powered two-wheelers will not be affected
After months of discussions and industry feedback, the Delhi government has officially approved the Delhi EV Policy 2026. The new policy comes into effect from July 1, 2026 to March 31, 2030.
Ban On Petrol-Powered Two-Wheelers
The policy states, “From 01 April 2028, only electric two-wheelers shall be permitted for new registration in the NCT of Delhi.”
This means no new petrol-powered two-wheelers would be registered in the capital from the mentioned date – only electric two-wheelers. However, the policy does not mention anything about the usage of petrol-powered two-wheelers registered before the date. This could mean the owners of existing bikes and scooters shouldn't face an issue.
That said, there are still two years for this to come into effect, and other, newer policies could change circumstances.
Purchase And Scrappage Incentives
To encourage EV adoption now, the government has announced purchase incentives of up to Rs 30,000 for electric two-wheelers. People who buy a new electric two-wheeler once the policy is in effect can avail subsidies:
|
Incentive Period |
Incentive Amount |
Maximum Incentive |
|
Year 1 |
Rs 10,000 per kWh |
Up to Rs 30,000 |
|
Year 2 |
Rs 6,600 per kWh |
Up to Rs 20,000 |
|
Year 3 |
Rs 3,300 per kWh |
Up to Rs 10,000 |
The incentive is also applicable only on electric two-wheelers whose ex-showroom amount does not exceed Rs 2.25 lakh. The incentives will be transferred directly to beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
The policy also introduces a scrappage incentive of Rs 10,000 for owners replacing an older petrol-powered two-wheeler (only vehicles which are BS-IV compliant and older) with a new electric one.
The policy also states, “All electric vehicles registered in the NCT of Delhi during the policy period shall be granted 100% exemption from road tax and registration fees at the time of vehicle registration.” This should significantly lower the upfront purchase cost of an electric scooter or a bike.
Charging Infrastructure Expansion
Supporting the EV transition, the Delhi government plans to install over 30,000 EV charging points across the city by March 2030. These will be set up at public locations such as markets and workplaces, with provisions for charging stations in residential societies also being worked on.
Industry Reactions
The proposal had earlier faced opposition from industry stakeholders, with SIAM arguing that BS6 Phase 2 petrol-powered two-wheelers are already significantly cleaner and that replacing older vehicles would have a greater impact on emissions than banning new petrol-powered models.
That said, there are quite a few positive comments on the implemented policy:y.
“Delhi has approved a new EV Policy, marking one of the most significant city level pushes for electrification in India," says Tarun Mehta, the CEO of Ather Energy. He also said, “More critically, if Delhi can become majority EV, then it has the opportunity to become a benchmark for the rest of the country.”
Madhumita Agrawal, Oben Electric’s CEO says, “Delhi's EV Policy 2.0 is a progressive policy that addresses the key enablers required to accelerate EV adoption at scale.”
A Glimmer Of Hope
The Delhi EV Policy 2026 will remain in effect until March 31, 2030. Beyond that, the government has not specified what comes next. It remains unclear whether the policy will simply lapse, be extended in its current form, or be replaced with a revised framework that continues or modifies the electric-only registration mandate for new two-wheelers.
Globally, similar EV-focused policies have also evolved over time. Several European countries have either delayed, rolled back, or reconsidered certain electrification targets and incentives in response to changing market conditions, infrastructure readiness and consumer demand. This suggests that long-term policy direction can change depending on real-world outcomes.
Another important point is that the policy does not prevent usage of petrol-powered two-wheelers registered outside the NCT. As things stand, the restriction applies to new registrations in Delhi alone, not to the movement or use of vehicles legally registered in other regions.