If you live in Delhi, India, and want a motorcycle with an internal combustion engine, you’d be better off buying a motorcycle before 2028. Earlier this week, the Delhi government announced a plan to ban gasoline-powered scooters and motorcycles, and the first phase of that plan includes banning the purchase of the said machines in 2028. The plan is for electric motorcycles and e-scooters to replace ICE two-wheelers, but it has already come under criticism.
It is hard to imagine the streets of Delhi without the noise, energy and smoke of scooters, motorcycles and rickshaws. But it is this smoke that the government is trying to reduce. In fact, the entire plan will involve phasing out new gas scooters, trucks and buses in the capital over the next two years.
Delhi is by far one of the most polluted cities in the world. Delhi’s air is linked to thousands of deaths every year, and scooters and rickshaws account for more than two-thirds of the millions of vehicles on the city’s roads. So, it’s hard to blame the government for trying to make the air less toxic, but it’s the method and time frame that are making people unsure about its feasibility.
From 2027, the Indian capital will issue new license plates only for electric small trucks and three-wheelers (e-rickshaws). Same will happen to e-scooters and electric motorcycles from 2028. The government hopes this will electrify at least 30% of the capital’s fleet by 2030, but the question is: is the infrastructure capable of supporting it?
Although the government is planning to install more than 30,000 public charging points across the capital, this may not be enough to facilitate the change that drivers are demanding. Rajesh Gopi, a rickshaw puller, said, “I have heard that e-rickshaws require a lot of charging and we cannot go as far on gas as we can,” before adding, “If I have to wait for an hour or two every day for charging, it is a loss of income for me which I cannot afford. I don’t even know how to maintain an e-rickshaw or how to prevent the batteries from being stolen.” Go.”
The goal of improving air quality in Delhi is not a problem as long as workers do not pay the price, and this can potentially be achieved through improvements in public transport. Prominent environmentalist Bhavarin Kandhari said, “More cars on the road is not a solution… To reduce traffic jams and dust in the city, the government should work on improving public transport and last mile connectivity with green solutions. This EV policy falls short on that aspect.”
Is banning the sale of ICE two-wheelers and three-wheelers the right path, or should the Delhi government focus more on improving green public transport solutions? Let us know in the comments.
