Expressing optimism about the adoption of electric and alternative fuel vehicles, Nitin Gadkari said that the scenario will change in the next five years.
see photosThe minister said that the sales of petrol and diesel vehicles will decline day by day.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday expressed optimism about the adoption of electric and alternative fuel-powered vehicles, saying the scenario will change in the next five years. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister said that the sales of petrol and diesel vehicles will decline day by day while the sales of electric and alternative fuel vehicles will increase. The minister, however, refrained from setting any target for alternative fuels and electric vehicles. “It (alternative fuels and electric vehicles) should be the natural choice of the consumers…we don’t want to set any target for EVs,” Gadkari said.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had asked the minister to fix a target in terms of proportion of electric vehicles (EVs) by a particular year for a focused approach in this direction.
Gadkari said, “The whole game will change in the next three years. The sales of petrol and diesel vehicles will go down day by day. The sales of alternative fuels and electric vehicles will increase. After five years the overall scenario will change.”
He cited an example that if a customer has to choose between an EV and a petrol car, where the cost is Rs 15 lakh, with fuel costing Rs 50,000 (petrol) and Rs 2,000 (for an EV), then a More economical option will have to be taken.
The minister dismissed the issue of lack of EV charging infrastructure and said that in a year the day will come when EV charging system will be everywhere including all offices.
“I never understand it (the issue of lack of EV charging infra). There is a lot of buzz… NHAI is building 650 charging stations. Every 40 km (on the highway) with roadside facilities.” He also told the House that scooter and car makers are providing small chargers and one can use the car throughout the day and plug it in for evening charging at home. “It will be charged (overnight). There will be no problem in the morning,” he said.
The minister acknowledged that the cost of batteries is a major challenge.
“Currently Lithium Ion is a big challenge. We don’t have Lithium Ion. About 81 per cent of the battery we make here in India. Now Lithium Ion is available in the world. The government is in the process of acquiring some mines,” he said. .
He also told the House that India’s crude oil imports currently stand at Rs 8 lakh crore, which will increase to Rs 25 lakh crore in the next five years.
“It is time for us to shift to alternative fuels, electricity, ethanol, methanol, bio CNG, green hydrogen in the interest of nation, economy, ecology and environment. We are on the way,” he said. PTI KKS Shree
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