Cost Of Electric Cars To Be At Par With Petrol-Run Vehicles In Next 2 Years, Says Nitin Gadkari

The minister said that the government will provide passes to locals having Aadhaar cards who reside near toll plazas and he also ensured that there will be only one toll plaza within 60 km

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari speaks in the Lok Sabha during the second part of Budget Session, on Tuesday. Image: PTI

New Delhi: The central government has said that major strides in the area of technology and green fuel will reduce the cost of electric automobiles, bringing them at par with petrol-run vehicles within next two years.

Nitin Gadkari, Union road transport minister, on Tuesday, while replying in the Lok Sabha, said on the demands for grants for Road Transport and Highways Ministry, 2022-23, there is a need to shift to cost-effective indigenous fuel, acording to a report by the PTI.

He hoped that this fuel will be a reality soon, bringing the pollution levels down and improving the overall situation in Delhi, while adding that hydrogen will soon be the cheapest fuel alternative.

Gadkari has asked the MPs of the Lok Sabha to take initiative in their respective districts for converting sewage water to produce green hydrogen and also urged them to adopt hydrogen technologies for transport.

In his speech, the minister said, “I can say within maximum two years, the cost of electric scooter, car, autorickshaw will be same as petrol-driven scooter, car, autorickshaw. Prices of lithium-ion battery are coming down. We are developing this chemistry of zinc-ion, aluminium-ion, sodium-ion batteries. If petrol, you are spending Rs 100, then on electric vehicle you will spend Rs 10 (for using).”

In another reply, the minister said that the government has made mandatory for every car carrying up to 8 passengers should have 6 airbags. “Automobile industry complained of increased expenses. But we won't patronise the affluent at the cost of poor consumers' lives,” he said.

On toll plaza, the minister said, “We’ll provide passes to locals having Aadhaar cards who reside near toll plazas. Further, I ensure that there will be only one toll plaza within 60 km and if there’s a second toll plaza, then it will be shut in the next three months.”