Owning an electric vehicle is not as straightforward as purchasing a regular petrol or diesel car, primarily due to the relatively higher cost. However, if existing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles can be converted to electric, the additional expense can be avoided, making the transition more feasible. This is a possibility that the Delhi government is currently considering seriously, as part of efforts to control air pollution.

The Delhi government is planning to offer incentives for converting petrol and diesel vehicles to electric. These plans are expected to be included in the new electric vehicle (EV) policy, according to The Indian Express. The government is considering providing an incentive of ₹50,000 for ICE (internal combustion) vehicles being retrofitted with electric technology. Initially, this amount will be given for the first 1,000 vehicles undergoing conversion.

The Ministry of Transport has submitted this recommendation for consideration by the Delhi government. The plan will be implemented only after cabinet approval. The retrofitting process involves removing the petrol or diesel engine that powers the vehicle and replacing it with an electric motor and battery pack. Although this idea has been considered previously, high costs and vehicle compatibility posed challenges.

Now, if this new recommendation is implemented, it is expected to motivate vehicle owners to adopt electric technology. The policy aims to discourage people from scrapping their existing vehicles, instead encouraging conversion. The primary beneficiaries of this initiative are likely to be owners of luxury vehicles, who face the greatest challenges in terms of low resale value of fossil fuel vehicles.

Owners of high-end cars like Mercedes-Benz and BMW often struggle with low resale value. Transport department officials believe that if attractive incentives are provided for converting older luxury vehicles to electric, owners will prefer conversion over scrapping, accelerating the shift to EV technology.