CAQM proposes mandating only EV taxis from April 2027, EV private cars from 2030 in Delhi-NCR

The proposal extends to two-wheeler taxis and food delivery vehicles, as well as all three-wheelers, both passenger and goods carriers | Photo Credit: iStockphoto

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has convened a meeting of its expert committee on Friday with select stakeholders to discuss measures to curb vehicular emissions in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas.

The move could have significant implications for taxi and ride-hailing services in Delhi as the committee is understood to be considering a proposal to allow only Electric Vehicles (EVs) to be registered as taxis in Delhi-NCR from April 1, 2027.

In what industry observers describe as an unusual step, the CAQM has not invited major cab aggregators such as Ola Cabs and Uber, fleet operators, or the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) to the meeting.

Instead, invitations have reportedly been sent to select automobile manufacturers, including Maruti Suzuki India, Tata Motors, Hyundai Motor India, Mahindra & Mahindra, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, Honda Cars India and Mercedes-Benz India.

The expert committee is chaired by Ashok Jhunjhunwala of IIT-Madras. Sources familiar with the discussions said the panel is proposing that only Zero Tailpipe Emission (ZTE) four-wheeler taxis, effectively Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEVs), be registered in Delhi-NCR from April 1, 2027.

BEVs, FCEVs

The primary vehicle categories under consideration include Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), powered entirely by electricity stored in batteries and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs), which generate electricity onboard using hydrogen, emitting only water vapour at the tailpipe.

The proposal also extends to two-wheeler taxis and food delivery vehicles, as well as all three-wheelers, both passenger and goods carriers, which would be required to be ZTE vehicles from the same date.

From April 2028, the committee is said to be recommending similar restrictions for larger segments such as buses and trucks, permitting only electric or ZTE vehicles to be newly registered in the region.

The most far-reaching recommendation, according to sources, is for April 2030, when all private vehicles, both two- and four-wheelers, would be required to be Zero Tailpipe Emission vehicles.

The CAQM is mandated to review and coordinate policies related to clean mobility across Delhi-NCR, including Bharat Stage (BS) emission norms, electric mobility initiatives and fuel efficiency standards.

However, the proposed timeline has raised questions within the industry.

“The Committee is proposing that all taxis be EVs from April 2027, and from April 2030 all private vehicles too should be ZTEs. But in the interim, the Home Minister has launched Bharat Taxi, under which nearly three lakh taxis have reportedly been registered, about 90 per cent of them running on CNG. Lakhs of drivers are enrolled on the platform. If EVs are made mandatory, where will these vehicles and drivers go?” said a sector expert.

The expert added that a calibrated approach with a mix of technologies may be more practical, particularly given cost concerns. Lower- and middle-income commuters, who constitute the bulk of users of taxis and three-wheelers, could face higher fares if operators are compelled to shift entirely to EVs, given the upfront cost of electric vehicles.

The recommendations are expected to trigger wider consultations before any final notification is issued.

Published on February 26, 2026