According to sources, the Delhi transport department is preparing to organize a series of electric vehicle (EV) festivals, called EV Utsav, in order to promote the sale and usage of EVs in the city. The officials stated that three events are initially planned for the year, pending approval of the proposal. The series aims to bring together all stakeholders, including buyers, sellers, battery providers, and swapping agencies, across the two, three, and four-wheeler segments. The recent release of a list of 75 best practices in the social sector by Niti Aayog, which included the Delhi EV policy, highlights the ongoing efforts to promote EVs.A senior transport department official, who requested anonymity, stated, "We have been implementing various measures to increase the adoption of EVs in Delhi across all segments. This EV Utsav is an endeavour to familiarize customers with the EV ecosystem and create a platform where all original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can come together."
The transport department has drafted the proposal for the EV Utsav and submitted it to Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot for final approval. Initially, the festival will focus on two-wheelers. The event is anticipated to showcase several stalls where original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), battery producers, swapping agencies, and distribution companies (discom) will be present to address customer inquiries.OEMs will be encouraged to bring sample vehicles, and designated spaces will be allocated for test drives, according to officials. Another transport department official stated, "People often have questions about the lifespan of an EV, charging facilities, long-term benefits, and operational costs. The presence of OEMs and discoms will allow them to address these concerns. Meanwhile, we are working on a strategy to publicize the event so that a larger audience can participate."
The EV Cell of the transport department has also conducted online training and consultations for dealers and OEMs in the past two months to guide them through the process of providing subsidies to customers purchasing EVs. Officials noted that while the government offers subsidies to all consumers for purchasing two and three-wheeler EVs, many face difficulties due to errors in form completion, which necessitates returning the forms to the dealers for correction. As a result, approximately 15-20% of consumers experience delays in receiving subsidies.
In May, EVs accounted for around 14.5% of vehicle registrations in Delhi, marking one of the highest ratios of EV sales in the city. The majority of these were two-wheelers and e-rickshaws. The Delhi EV policy aims to ensure that 25% of all vehicles sold in Delhi are EVs by 2025.
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