Abstract:

Transportation is the leading cause of air pollution in Delhi, with a large portion of that pollution — including high particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) — coming from final-mile delivery vehicles. Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is one of the best ways to mitigate tailpipe emissions from delivery vehicles and reduce air pollution. Recognizing that EV adoption represents a tremendous opportunity to reduce air pollution, the Delhi government passed the Delhi EV policy, and specifically sought to electrify final-mile delivery vehicles. To complement the Delhi EV policy with on-the-ground implementation, the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDC), RMI, and RMI India launched the Deliver Electric Delhi pilot with 35 leading industry players to support the policy’s goal of electrifying the city’s delivery fleet. The pilot was formed to chart a path towards fully electrifying final-mile delivery vehicles. As a part of the pilot, DDC, RMI, and RMI India hosted stakeholder consultations, interviews, and surveys to understand possible barriers and ensure smooth implementation of the Delhi EV policy. This report highlights insights from the design, implementation, and consultation phases of the Deliver Electric Delhi Pilot, and compiles these findings into a roadmap for scaling final-mile delivery vehicle adoption. The Pilot identified ways in which policies, charging infrastructure, and access to finance can help private and public sector players fully electrify final-mile delivery vehicles. The report compares the costs and performance of EVs to their fossil fuel counterparts and outlines the economic case for fleet electrification.