Chandigarh’s new Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2022 seeks to reduce the use of fossil fuels, which contribute substantially to the rising particulate air pollution in the Union Territory. As a ‘model EV city’, Chandigarh aims to have one of the highest penetrations of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) among all Indian cities by the end of the policy period of five years. Approved by Chandigarh Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, the policy, which came into effect earlier this week, addresses the slow uptake of EVs, and the changing policy, technology, and market landscapes of the sector.
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The policy prioritises public and shared transport, goods carriers, and two-wheelers, to accelerate the adoption of EVs. Dharam Pal, Adviser to the Administrator, said the policy incentivises the adoption of all vehicle categories such as e-bicycles, e-2 wheelers, e-carts, e-autorickshaws, e-goods carriers, and personal and commercial e-four wheelers, over and above FAME-ll policy incentives provided by the Government of India. With an eye on adopting zero-emission mobility for achieving carbon neutrality in Chandigarh by 2030, the policy envisages that EVs will contribute 70% of new vehicle registrations by the end of the policy period.
