Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said that he is confident that lithium-ion batteries would be manufactured fully in the country in the next six months and India will become number one electric vehicle maker in the world in due course of time.
Speaking at the Amazon’s Smbhav Summit virtually, Gadkari said that the government wants to encourage automakers to introduce flex-fuel engines in India and he is in the final discussion with manufacturers.
“India is moving ahead towards making electric vehicles. In due course of time we will be the number one electric vehicle(EV) maker in the world. All reputed brands are present in India,” the Road Transport and Highways minister said.
Gadkari, Further said indigenous battery technology will make EV the most effective means of transport.
“India has got tremendous capability for making green power. Within six months, I am confident that we will be in position to make 100 per cent lithium-ion battery in India, there is no shortage of lithium,” he asserted.
Gadkari also informs about the governments plan to launch hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) technology. HFC technology uses chemical reactions between hydrogen and oxygen (from air) to generate electrical energy, eliminating the use of fossil fuels.
While noting that India imports INR 8 lakh crore of crude oil and it is going to double in the next 4-5 years which will have a huge impact on the economy, Gadkari said that it is important to look for an efficient and alternative mode of energy.
“E mobility will be the important tool to develop pollution free transport,” Gadkari said.
The Union minister also said that in the coming two years the cost of EV’s in India will be competitive to that of petrol and diesel vehicles. He also emphasized on the quality of EV’s.
He said, “the quality of EV manufactured in India should be of international standard.”
Gadkari said he wants to make Indian automobile industry the number one manufacturing hub in the world.
“For that purpose we are now encouraging ethanol, methanol, bio- CNG, electric and hydrogen fuel cell,” he said.
Presently, the turnover of our automobile industry is INR 7.5 lakh crore, out of which our export is INR 3.5 lakh crore.
