Ola, Uber, Zomato Join Delhi's Vehicle Aggregator Scheme for Electrification

Over one lakh vehicles from 21 cab aggregators, delivery services, and e-commerce firms have joined the Delhi government's Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme, the transport department announced on Saturday. The scheme mandates that companies with over 25 vehicles must register for a licence and outlines a timeline for fleet electrification.

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The Kejriwal government introduced the Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme 2023 in November 2023. This initiative aims to regulate and license cab aggregators, e-commerce, and delivery service providers in Delhi. It applies to those with fleets of 25 or more motor vehicles, excluding buses, that use digital platforms to connect with consumers.

Electrification Targets

The scheme sets specific goals for electrifying the fleets of licensed operators. For two-wheeler passenger vehicles, the target is six months. Three-wheeler passenger vehicles must achieve 10% electrification in six months, 25% in one year, 50% in two years, 75% in three years, and full electrification in four years. Four-wheeler passenger vehicles have targets of 5% in six months, 15% in one year, 25% in two years, 50% in three years, 75% in four years, and complete electrification in five years.

For goods vehicles, the targets are similar. Two-wheeler and three-wheeler goods vehicles must reach 10% electrification in six months, 25% in one year, 50% in two years, 75% in three years, and full electrification in four years. Four-wheeler goods vehicles have targets of 5% in six months, 15% in one year, 25% in two years, 50% in three years, 75% in four years, and complete electrification in five years.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Non-compliant cab aggregators will face penalties ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 100,000 per instance under the scheme's provisions. The onboarded entities include Smartshift Logistics, ANI Technologies (Ola's parent company), Uber India, Zomato Ltd., Blink Commerce, Swiggy Ltd., MoEVing Urban Technologies., and Roppen Transportation Services among others.

The fleet composition of these companies includes electric, petrol, and CNG-driven two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers. Smartshift Logistics has the largest fleet with over 50,000 vehicles. ANI Technologies follows with more than 36,000 vehicles. Zomato has over 22,000 vehicles while Blink Commerce has more than 10,000.

Licensing Requirements

Under the scheme's guidelines, existing or new operators must obtain a licence within 90 days of the scheme's notification or before starting operations. These licences are valid for five years with annual fees applicable. However, there are no fees for electric vehicles. Additionally, a rebate of 50% is provided for vehicles less than two years old.

"The response to the scheme is a testament to the confidence that businesses have in our vision for sustainable and efficient urban mobility," said Delhi's Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot. "This initiative will not only promote green mobility but also set high standards for service quality and public safety in the transport sector," he added.

The scheme aims to create comprehensive regulation and licensing for cab aggregators and delivery service providers. It covers those using digital intermediaries like apps or web portals to connect with consumers for their services.

This initiative by the Delhi government is a significant step towards sustainable urban mobility. It encourages businesses to adopt greener practices while ensuring high standards of service quality and public safety.