India is looking to introduce electric vehicles in a big way and the government had previously set its ambitions to make the country a 100% electric vehicle nation by 2030. However, it is widely recognized that to make this dream a reality, the development of the Infrastructure must keep pace, while local manufacturing could cut costs to make such products more affordable for mass adoption.
Nitin Gadkari, Indian Minister, has backed efforts that would help India increase production of ‘swadeshi’ and has said that the country’s auto sector, among several others, is becoming increasingly self-sufficient. He made these comments during a virtual program hosted by “Swadeshi Jagran Manch” on Sunday.
Mr. Gadkari stressed the need to boost exports while reducing dependence on imports, adding that India was on the right track. “I believe that imports should end and exports should be increased by promoting import substitutes,” the Union minister said, adding that an alternative fuel economy worth Rs 5 lakh crore could be created through the rural participation.
Interestingly though, Gadkari said that India is on the verge of becoming one of the biggest players in electric vehicles. The Minister for Road, Highways and MSMEs said the country would become the world’s largest electronic vehicle manufacturing center in the next five years with products ranging from two-wheelers, tricycles and automobiles to construction equipment.
Gadkari had previously urged automakers to build flexible engines to promote alternative fuels. “The government has made the decision that companies with a value of more than 250 million rupees can start their own gasoline / diesel pumps, but the condition is that they should also have alternative fuel pumps,” he had said. “” We are going to increase biofuel production since (there is) a surplus of food grains. I ask everyone (the automakers) to bring flexible engine technology, which is a proven technology and their brand companies are already using all these technologies in Brazil, the United States and Canada. “
No Road Tax for EVs
Earlier, India’s capital territory New Delhi exempted road tax on battery-operated vehicles. With the right incentives and supporting infrastructure, we are determined to ensure Delhi leads the country in rapid transition to electric vehicles,” said Kailash Gahlot, Transport Minister of Delhi, in his tweet
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