Delhi’s 2028 EV-only two-wheeler plan: charging and loan concerns

Delhi plans to register only electric two-wheelers from April 2028. Speakers at the India Clean Transportation Summit said reliable charging, affordable finance and compatible battery-swapping systems will be central to the shift.

Ajay Mathur, formerly director general of the International Solar Alliance and Bureau of Energy Efficiency, identified safety and thermal management, demand creation and battery-swapping interoperability as key hurdles. He said riders need dependable charging, including overnight options for vehicles used the following morning.

For gig workers, Paroma Bhat of Uber India and South Asia said electric two-wheeler loans typically run for up to three years, unlike the longer EMI tenures available for petrol motorcycles. That can increase monthly payments even when operating costs are lower.

Ather Energy’s Subrata Mitra said some electric motorcycle users travel 60 to 100km a day. He called for a “right to charge” framework, particularly for people without home-charging access.

Delhi’s policy offers ₹5,000 per kWh of battery capacity, capped at ₹30,000 per vehicle. The two-wheeler deadline follows Delhi’s planned EV-only registrations for light goods vehicles from January 2027.