For Delhi’s auto drivers, the EV shift stirs memories of the rushed CNG transition
Delhi's auto drivers are comparing the current transition to electric vehicles with the city's abrupt shift to CNG two decades ago, expressing concerns about infrastructure and costs. While experts argue the EV rollout is more gradual and better planned, drivers remain skeptical about the adequacy of charging stations and the financial burden of the technology.
Why it matters
The story highlights the practical challenges of urban green energy transitions, illustrating the gap between policy-level optimism and the daily operational realities faced by the informal transport sector.
For Pawan Kumar, an auto driver in Daryaganj, every electric auto on Delhi’s roads evokes memories of another transition that reshaped the city’s transport system over two decades ago. Now 65 and driving an electric vehicle (EV), Mr. Kumar still remembers the long queues outside compressed natural gas (CNG) stations, the scramble for conversion kits, and the uncertainty that followed when autorickshaws were ordered to switch from petrol to CNG almost overnight.
The article provides a balanced perspective by juxtaposing the lived experiences and concerns of auto drivers with the data-driven, optimistic outlook of policy experts and environmental researchers.
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