Starting August 15, 2026, Delhi’s draft EV Policy 2.0 plans to ban new registrations of petrol, diesel, and CNG two-wheelers. This means anyone buying a new bike or scooter in Delhi will have to choose an electric vehicle (EV). The goal is to cut air pollution and make Delhi a leader in clean transport, with 95% of new vehicles being EVs by 2027. But will this bold move help riders or make life harder, especially for daily commuters like bike-taxi drivers and small business owners? Let’s break it down in simple terms, focusing on affordability, subsidies, and what this means for companies like Hero MotoCorp.
What’s the Petrol Bike Ban About?
Delhi’s air quality is often terrible, especially in winter, when pollution from vehicles makes it hard to breathe. Two-wheelers, like bikes and scooters, are a big part of this problem because millions of them run on petrol or CNG. The EV Policy 2.0 wants to change that by stopping new petrol/CNG two-wheeler registrations after mid-2026. Instead, buyers will need to pick electric scooters or bikes, like the Bajaj Chetak, Ola S1, or Honda Activa e. The policy also offers cash subsidies, cheaper electricity for charging, and plans for more charging stations to make EVs easier to use.
Right now, Delhi has about 2 lakh electric two-wheelers registered (as of FY25), but they’re only 15% of total two-wheeler sales. The policy aims to push this to 50% by 2027. So, how will this affect riders and bike makers?
Boost for Riders: Cleaner Air and Savings
Cleaner Environment
Switching to electric bikes means less smoke and pollution. EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, which could improve Delhi’s air quality. For riders like students or office workers, this means healthier commutes. A recent X post by a Delhi college student, Arjun Mehra, said, “I’d love to ride an electric scooter if it helps clean the air I breathe every day.”
Lower Running Costs
Electric bikes are cheaper to run than petrol ones. Charging an EV costs about ₹1-2 per km, while petrol at ₹100/liter costs ₹3-5 per km. Over a year, a daily commuter riding 30 km could save ₹10,000-15,000 on fuel. The policy also offers subsidies to make EVs more affordable:
- Up to ₹10,000 for all buyers under the PM E-DRIVE scheme.
- A proposed ₹36,000 subsidy for women, which could encourage more female riders.
More Charging Stations
Delhi plans to set up 5,000 public charging and battery-swapping stations by 2027. Battery-swapping lets riders exchange empty batteries for full ones in 2-3 minutes, perfect for busy commuters. Companies like Sun Mobility are already testing this in Delhi.
Burden for Riders: Affordability and Practicality
High Upfront Costs
Electric bikes cost more than petrol ones. For example:
- Ola S1 Pro: ₹1.3 lakh
- Bajaj Chetak: ₹1.2 lakh
- Hero Splendor (petrol): ₹80,000
Even with a ₹10,000 subsidy, EVs are pricey for lower-income riders like bike-taxi drivers or delivery workers. Rajesh Kumar, a bike-taxi driver in Delhi, shared on X: “I earn ₹500 a day. How can I afford an electric bike that costs over ₹1 lakh?” The proposed ₹36,000 subsidy for women is great, but it’s still unclear if similar help will come for low-income men or daily wage earners.
Charging and Range Worries
Many riders don’t have a garage or home charging. Public chargers are scarce—Delhi has only about 500 now. For bike-taxi drivers who ride 100-150 km daily, EV ranges (80-150 km per charge) might not be enough. Small business owners, like grocers using bikes for deliveries, also worry about downtime while charging. Amit Sharma, a shopkeeper, said, “If I can’t charge fast or swap batteries nearby, my business will suffer.”
Job Impacts
Bike-taxi and delivery riders rely on cheap petrol bikes to keep costs low. Switching to EVs could raise their expenses, especially if subsidies don’t cover enough. A group of Delhi’s bike-taxi drivers posted on X, asking the government to offer bigger subsidies or low-cost loans for EVs.
Impact on Manufacturers: Hero MotoCorp Faces Challenges
Hero MotoCorp’s Struggle
Hero MotoCorp, India’s largest two-wheeler maker, sells petrol bikes like the Splendor and Passion, which dominate with a 30% market share. They’ve launched the Vida V1 electric scooter, but it’s only 2% of their sales. The 2026 ban could hurt Hero’s business in Delhi, as buyers are forced to go electric. Analyst Gaurav Vangaal from ICRA says, “Hero needs to ramp up EV production fast, or they’ll lose Delhi’s market to Bajaj and Ola.”
Winners: EV-Focused Companies
Companies like Bajaj Auto, Ola Electric, and TVS Motor are ready to gain. Bajaj’s Chetak led sales in March 2025 with 34,863 units, while Ola sold over 4 lakh units in 2024. These brands have affordable EVs and are building charging networks. Honda’s new Activa e, launching in Spring 2025, will also benefit from the policy’s push.
Hybrid Debate
Hero MotoCorp is pushing for CNG bikes to get exemptions under the policy, arguing they’re cleaner than petrol. If the government allows this, Hero could soften the blow. But EV makers like Ola and Bajaj oppose this, saying only pure EVs should get benefits.
Rider Voices: What Delhiites Say
- Sunita Devi, Food Stall Owner: “I use my petrol scooter to buy supplies. An EV sounds good, but I need chargers in my area and a lower price.”
- Vikram Singh, Delivery Rider: “Petrol bikes are cheap and reliable. EVs need to match that, or I’ll struggle to pay my bills.”
- Neha Gupta, Student: “The ₹36,000 subsidy for women is awesome! I’m saving up for an electric scooter for college.”
These voices, gathered from X and local interviews, show a mix of hope and worry. Riders want EVs but need practical solutions.
Data and Projections
- Current EV Penetration: Electric two-wheelers are 15% of Delhi’s sales (2 lakh units in FY25).
- Post-Ban Goal: The policy targets 50% EV sales by 2027, with 1 million EV two-wheelers by 2030.
- Sales Impact: Experts predict a 10-15% drop in petrol bike sales in Delhi by 2027, with EVs taking 60% of the market.
Expert Insights
Sulajja Firodia Motwani, an EV industry leader, told The Economic Times: “The ban is a strong signal, but affordability is key. Subsidies and financing for low-income riders will decide its success.” Policy analyst Priya Jain adds, “Delhi needs 10,000 chargers by 2027 to support daily commuters like taxi drivers.”
Boost or Burden?
The 2026 petrol bike ban could be a boost for cleaner air, cheaper running costs, and EV companies like Bajaj and Ola. But it’s a burden for lower-income riders who can’t afford EVs or find chargers. The government’s ₹36,000 subsidy for women and plans for more charging stations are steps in the right direction, but bigger subsidies and low-cost loans are needed for daily commuters. For Hero MotoCorp, the ban is a wake-up call to go electric faster.
The policy is still a draft, so changes might come before 2026. If CNG bikes get a pass, Hero could benefit, but riders will still face EV costs eventually. Delhi’s move could inspire other cities, but it must support its riders to succeed.