Diesel vehicles over ten years are illegal on Delhi roads. However, there is only one way to operate these vehicles in the capital; if their owners can convert them into electric vehicles. The Delhi government intends to choose multiple producers of EV conversion kits to carry out the conversions.
Owners of diesel vehicles may now bypass the ban by retrofitting their vehicles with electric kits.
What is retrofitting?
An electric driveline that replaces a vehicle's internal combustion engine is retrofitting. Throughout Europe, this strategy is used to convert diesel buses and trucks into zero-emission CVs, lowering carbon emissions and congestion.
A vehicle must be registered in Delhi for a minimum of ten years to be eligible for this conversion. By retrofitting current vehicles, the new scrappage policy will not apply to them for the next 5-7 years, extending their life span.
What does the law state?
The law on retrofitting says that only installers authorized by the manufacturer or supplier of the kits can install type-approved hybrid electric systems. The kit maker must receive a certificate of type approval from a designated testing agency.
What does an EV conversion kit include?
For public highway use, you must first convert your old diesel vehicle to an electric vehicle. The Delhi Transport Department will work with electric kit makers to convert ICE vehicles to electric cars.
The diesel car will first strip its internal combustion engine (ICE) components, including the engine, fuel tank, exhaust system, and transmission. The vehicle will, after that, receive an electric motor, a high-voltage wiring circuit, a battery pack, and EV system control units.
How much does it cost?
There are a few EV conversion firms in India, and the cost ranges between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 4 lakh. ETrio, a Hyderabad-based start-up, is currently converting ICE (Diesel/Petrol) cars such as the Maruti Alto and Dzire to electric vehicles with a range of up to 150 kilometers on a single charge. The electric conversion kit costs around Rs 4 lakh; however, clients may lease the kit or purchase the electrified car straight from them.
At a low cost, the Bengaluru-based company Altigreen, is able to transform any type of fossil fuel car into a hybrid model.
Altigreen's hybrid kit fits alongside the engine and consists of a generator, wire harness, a dual-electric motor, power and control electronics, and batteries. The system runs on the engine's waste energy. The 48V battery pack comprises 4 Lead-acid batteries and fits easily in the car's boot, and this plug-in device would cost between Rs 60,000 and Rs 80,000.
