Electric vehicles in Delhi achieve 20 million kilometres on road

Electric vehicles (EV) deployed in Delhi have completed 20 million kilometres on the road. This has resulted in a reduction of 500 kilograms of particulate matter emissions, contributing significantly to cleaner air and health benefits for the public.

About 3573 tonne carbon emission has been avoided, since the day of deployment of EVs and Rs. 8.6 crore has been saved in terms of monetary value. The 2-crore or 20 million e-kilometres also contribute to 1,330,000 litres saving in fuel consumption. A total of 565 CESL EVs are running in the national capital region with more and more consumers being encouraged to switch to EVs. There has been a rise of more than 140 % YoY in sales of electric cars that shows the gradual acceptance of the technology among the climate conscious. 

Delhi has become the EV hub of India, accounting for half of the total ‘electric-kilometres’ in India. The government of India is the biggest demand generator with most ministries, government companies and other agencies converting at least some part of their fleet into electric. Speaking on the completion of this landmark, Mahua Acharya, MD & CEO of Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), said, “Demand for EVs is increasing rapidly and the 2-crore kilometres milestone is testimony to this. This is an important step towards India building out an ecosystem for electric mobility. CESL is bringing together initiatives to invest in clean energy and clean transportation, and our planned investments in 20,000 electric vehicles, India is expected to save over 6.4 crore litres of fuel every year leading to a reduction of over 5.6 lakh tonnes of annual CO2 emissions.”

The adoption of electric vehicles in India is being encouraged by the Government with a target to reach 30% by 2030. As per the Government of India (GoI), 70 percent of all commercial cars, 30 percent of private cars, 40 percent of buses, and 80 percent of two-wheeler (2W) and three-wheeler (3W) sales, in total at least 30% of entire vehicle population by 2030 would be electric.

In support of this policy goal, the GoI has taken several steps to incentivise 2 and 3-wheeler EVs, shared mobility and public transport by offering capital subsidies and tax incentives. Rs. 1000 crore has been allocated to provide up to 70% capital subsidy for public charging stations (PCS). The Government has also clarified that setting up of PCS and charging EVs is a “delicensed” activity – an important step towards unleashing private enterprise and innovation. Special tariffs have also been issued by many states. Delhi has a target of 25% EVs for all new vehicle registrations by 2024.

Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) is a newly established 100% subsidiary of state-owned Energy Efficiency Services Limited, who has taken the lead in electric mobility by deploying 1500 electric vehicles and over 1000 charging stations. With the help of the national government subsidy, the aim is to reach 10,000 charging stations in three years. CESL will take this effort to the next level by rolling out innovative clean energy-based transport solutions as a whole, not just electric cars.

CESL will invest in solutions that lie at the confluence of renewable energy, electric mobility, and climate change. CESL will work to enable battery powered electric mobility and its infrastructure and design business models to increase the uptake of electric vehicles in India.

To encourage E-Mobility in India, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has installed over 225 EV public charging stations having around 426 charging points (charging guns) pan India, out of which around 114 EV chargers having 188 charging points (charging guns) have been installed in public parking areas of NDMC and SDMC in Delhi. EESL has set up the first EV charging Plaza in the country in Rafi Marg central Delhi in association with NDMC. All variants of electric cars can be charged in the charging plaza. A charging plaza can facilitate a large number of users at the same time at a single location. EV drivers therefore have a greater chance of finding a free charging point at the plaza. EESL is planning to install more charging hubs in collaboration with SDMC and NDMC in Delhi.

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) is an energy service company (ESCO) of the Government of India and is the world's largest public ESCO. It is 100% government-owned, a joint venture of state-owned NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation, REC Limited and POWERGRID.