Delhi has done a lot right with its draft Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2026. It comes at an important moment in India’s electric mobility journey, where the shift is no longer about early adoption, but scaling up in a structured and durable way. The move from incentives in the 2020 policy to mandates and scrappage-linked measures in the draft 2026 policy reflects that progress. It shows intent, direction, and a willingness to take hard decisions.

The Delhi Government deserves great credit. It is among the first in the country to move towards phasing-out internal combustion engine vehicles in certain segments. That big step sets an important example for other states.

At the same time, one area of the draft policy needs a closer look: charging infrastructure. The current draft focuses heavily on public charging, which is undeniably important. But private charging, whether at individual, community or captive locations, is equally so. That policy piece is missing from the draft; its omission will become a bottleneck as adoption inevitably scales up.

Electric vehicles do not follow the same refuelling logic as outmoded petrol or diesel vehicles. They do not depend on a network of fuel stations. In fact, most EV charging globally happens where vehicles are parked for long durations, at home, at workplaces, or at depots. In Delhi too, private vehicles remain parked for most of the day, often upwards of 90 percent of the time. That makes private charging central to the transition, not peripheral.

While draft policy mentions the need for a comprehensive charging network, when it comes to actionable measures, it focuses mostly on expanding public charging stations. That is necessary, but insufficient.

Take the example of captive charging. The policy rightly introduces electrification mandates for segments like buses, school transport, and light commercial vehicles. But these segments will rely heavily on charging within their own premises or operational hubs. Schools will need to........

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