Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot has announced that diesel cars and SUVs older than 10 years can continue to be used in the National Capital Region (NCR) if they are converted to run on purely electric power. The government hasn't made any announcement regarding the conversion of petrol vehicles yet.
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Gahlot stated that Delhi is now open to ICE to electric retrofitting. Diesel vehicles that are fit for the conversion can get an EV kit retrofitted from government-approved manufacturers. But it is worth noting that EV kit manufacturers will be required to get EV kits of each model certified individually by approved testing agencies. However, various kit makers have demanded that the certification criteria should be universal like it is for CNG kits because the individual certification for each model will require a lot of money and time.
This new initiative comes as a great aid to the owners of diesel vehicles in the national capital region because as per the current regulations 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles cannot ply on the roads of Delhi-NCR.
In another step to boost EVs in the national capital region, the government has recently permitted entry to electric light commercial vehicles (L5N & N1) on approximately 250 roads during ‘No Entry’ hours. This will surely increase the demand for electric LCVs by transport and logistic companies serving in and around Delhi.
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