Mechanics fear electric mobility will reshape livelihoods unless large-scale reskilling efforts accelerate across markets.
For nearly half a century, Karol Bagh’s crowded lanes have been synonymous with motorcycle repairs. From engine overhauls to carburettor fixes, generations of mechanics have built their livelihoods around the internal combustion engine. But as Delhi moves towards a cleaner, electric future, the neighbourhood’s traditional repair economy is confronting its biggest challenge yet.
The city’s Electric Vehicle (EV) policy, which aims to promote electric mobility and reduce vehicular emissions, has raised concerns among mechanics and traders who fear that their specialised skills may lose relevance in the coming years.
Inside a small workshop tucked between spare-parts stores, 52-year-old Vijay Pal watches his apprentice repair a petrol motorcycle. He says the nature of his work is already beginning to change.
“Earlier, every vehicle needed regular servicing. Customers would come for oil changes, engine problems and mechanical repairs. Electric vehicles don’t work the same way. We are worried about what our workshops will look like five years from now,” he said.
The concern is shared by many in Karol Bagh’s repair market, where hundreds of businesses depend on petrol and diesel vehicles. The shift to electric mobility threatens not only mechanics but also suppliers dealing in engine components, lubricants, exhaust parts and other traditional automobile products.
“Almost everything in my shop is connected to conventional vehicles—filters, pistons, clutch parts and engine components,” said Anil Gupta, a spare-parts trader in Karol Bagh. “If demand falls, small traders like us will have to find new businesses. We cannot replace decades of experience overnight.”
Electric two-wheelers require fewer mechanical repairs compared to petrol vehicles. Their maintenance is centred around batteries, motors, controllers and electronic systems—areas where many traditional mechanics have limited experience.
For younger workers in the market, the transition presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
“I know EVs are the future, but learning the technology requires training,” said Aftab Khan, a 26-year-old mechanic. “Most workers here learned through experience, not classrooms. We need affordable courses where we can understand batteries, wiring and software systems.”
Automobile industry experts say the concern among independent repair workers reflects a larger transformation taking place across the transport sector.
“Electric mobility will not eliminate the need for service technicians, but it will change the nature of the job,” said Tutu Dhawan, an automobile industry consultant. “Mechanics who adapt to electrical systems and digital diagnostics will find opportunities, but those without access to training may struggle.”
Environmental groups have welcomed Delhi’s efforts to promote electric vehicles but have also stressed the need for a planned transition for workers dependent on traditional automobile systems.
“Climate action cannot ignore the people whose livelihoods are connected to existing technologies,” said Sandeep Kumar, an environmental activist. “A successful EV transition must include skill development and support for small businesses.”
The Delhi government and automobile companies have increasingly focused on expanding EV infrastructure, but workers in informal repair markets say they need clearer pathways to participate in the changing industry.
Back in Karol Bagh, mechanics continue to repair the petrol motorcycles that arrive at their workshops every day. Yet many acknowledge that the market they know may not remain the same for long.
“We have adapted before whenever technology changed,” said Mahesh Yadav, who has worked as a mechanic for more than 30 years. “But this change is much bigger. We want to learn, but someone has to show us the way.”
As Delhi accelerates its transition towards electric mobility, Karol Bagh stands as a reminder that technological change affects not just the vehicles on the road but also the thousands of workers whose skills have kept them running for decades.
