New rules fuel hybrid vs electric vehicles debate

A fresh advisory by New Delhi's air quality monitoring body has reignited the debate over whether hybrid vehicles can be included in the category of 'clean vehicles'.

- Ayaan Kartik & Nehal Chaliawala

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI:

The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) in a 3 June advisory directed commercial fleet operators to not induct conventional petrol or diesel vehicles and prefer 'clean' automobiles instead, much to the chagrin of the electric vehicle lobby for not clearly defining clean vehicles.

"No conventional ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles running purely on diesel or petrol shall be further inducted in the existing fleet of 4-Wheeler LCVs (light commercial vehicles), 4-Wheeler LGVs (light goods vehicles; NI category up to 3.5 Ton) and 2-Wheelers with effect from 01.01.2026," CAQM said in its advisory to vehicle aggregators, delivery service providers, and e-commerce entities.

While it did not define 'clean vehicles' this time, CAQM in a 2 May advisory defined these as battery electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and those running on compressed natural gas (CNG).