Quick reads
- The new EV Policy 2026 came into effect on July 1 with an aim to accelerate zero-emission transport in the capital.
- Authorities have received a total of 5,678 applications for various incentives.
- Electric two-wheelers generated 5,621 applications and accounted for the bulk of processed claims.
- The government has disbursed Rs 4.8 crore so far, out of which Rs 4.6 crore went directly to two-wheeler buyers.
- Buyers can claim up to Rs 30,000 in the first year for electric scooters and motorcycles.
- Scrapping incentives remain slow to pick up, with only 41 buyers receiving funds for retiring older vehicles.
EV adoption in the national capital is moving rapidly; as three months since the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2026 went live on July 1, the government has received a strong response from the public. Official data from the Delhi government gives an insight into the massive influx of subsidy requests on their dedicated portal, especially with electric two-wheelers driving the majority of adoption.
The Two Wheeler Surge and Disbursed Subsidies
Delhi residents have shown a massive preference for electric two-wheelers. Out of the 5,678 total applications received since July, a staggering 5,621 requests came from buyers of electric scooters and motorcycles. The government has actively processed 1,664 of these applications so far. Direct benefit transfers show that Rs 4.8 crore has been distributed among eligible beneficiaries. Two-wheeler owners accounted for 1,648 of those processed applications, claiming Rs 4.6 crore of the total disbursed amount. Officials confirmed that the remaining 4,014 applications are currently under verification.
The policy relies on a step-down subsidy structure to encourage immediate purchases. Buyers of electric two-wheelers receive a purchase incentive of Rs 10,000 per kWh, capped at Rs 30,000 during the first year of the policy. This benefit drops to a maximum of Rs 20,000 in the second year and Rs 10,000 by the third year. A similar tiered system applies to electric passenger three-wheelers, starting at Rs 50,000 in the first year. Meanwhile, electric car buyers receive a complete waiver on road tax and registration fees for models priced up to Rs 30 lakh.
Scrapping Incentives Show Slow Growth
The EV Policy 2026 offers a scrapping incentive of Rs 1 lakh for eligible BS IV or older passenger cars. Owners of older two-wheelers can claim Rs 10,000 when purchasing a new electric model.
However, the government has received only 52 scrapping applications for four-wheelers and 79 for two-wheelers. Only 41 new EV buyers have actually received these scrapping incentives. Authorities released Rs 16 lakh to 16 beneficiaries for replacing old cars with new electric four-wheelers, while 25 electric two-wheeler owners received a combined Rs 2.5 lakh.
| Incentive Category | Applications Received | Applications Approved | Total Amount Disbursed | First Year Maximum Incentive |
| Electric Two Wheelers (Purchase Subsidy) | 5,621 | 1,648 | Rs 4.60 Crore | Rs 30,000 (Rs 10,000 per kWh) |
| Passenger Car Scrapping Incentive | 52 | 16 | Rs 16.00 Lakh | Rs 1,00,000 per vehicle |
| Two Wheeler Scrapping Incentive | 79 | 25 | Rs 2.50 Lakh | Rs 10,000 per vehicle |
| N1 Commercial Goods Vehicles (Up to 3.5T) | 5 | 0 | Nil (Under Verification) | Specified Freight Subsidy |
Commercial Vehicles Await Subsidy Processing
The electric goods vehicle segment paints an interesting picture. Registrations for commercial electric vehicles jumped from eight percent before the policy to nearly 26 percent in September. Despite this shift, very few owners have applied for the available financial benefits. The state has received just five applications for N1 electric trucks weighing up to 3.5 tonnes, and no subsidies have been released in this category yet.
In all of this, it is clear that the two-wheelers are doing all the heavy lifting, and the policy is definitely trying to front-load incentive for buyers with EV adoption by encouraging early adoption. So, if you are planning to buy an electric vehicle in Delhi, the best time would be now, as the incentive provided is time-bound and inversely proportional to the time period, which means the longer you delay the purchase, the less benefit you will get from this policy.
