New rules fuel hybrid-EV row

Delhi's new advisory for fleet operators intensifies the policy debate over clean vehicle regulations, emissions

- Ayaan Kartik & Nehal Chaliawala

New Delhi's air quality monitoring body Tuesday directed commercial fleet operators in the National Capital Region (NCR) to not induct conventional petrol or diesel vehicles and prefer 'clean' automobiles instead, as one way to combat worsening air quality.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas in a 3 June advisory directed the state governments of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to allow only the registration of electric or compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered three-wheelers for commercial fleet operators in the NCR.

Moreover, for four-wheeler passenger and goods vehicles and two-wheelers, it said commercial fleets should induct no conventional vehicle running only on petrol or diesel from January 2026. It is applicable 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 them as battery electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, CNG vehicles, and those running on flex fuel. In that advisory, the CAQM had urged all state and Union government departments in the NCR to procure only clean vehicles.