Prices of electric vehicles to be equal of petrol cars in 2 years, says Nitin Gadkari

Minister Nitin. Gadkari also said MPs can buy electric vehicles once a charging station is installed in Parliament premises

Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari speaks in the Lok Sabha during the second part of Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on March 31, 2022. Photo: Sansad TV/PTI

Prices of all electric vehicles (EVs) will be equal to the cost of petrol vehicles in the country within two years, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said in the Lok Sabha on March 31.

Mr. Gadkari also said MPs can buy electric vehicles once a charging station is installed in Parliament premises.

“I will assure all the honourable members that within two years the cost of electric two-wheelers, electric three-wheelers and electric four-wheelers will be equivalent to the cost of petrol vehicles and the country will change,” he said during Question Hour.

The Minister said the Government’s policy is import substitute, cost-effectiveness, pollution-free and indigenous production.

“Due to petrol and diesel costs, we are facing crucial problems. Already we have seen the situation. So, this is the only alternative fuel, I mean, green hydrogen, electricity, ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, bio-LNG and bio-CNG. Sir, we will work in that direction,” he said.

He requested Speaker Om Birla to provide proper space to start electric charging stations in all Parliament parking places so that MPs can buy electric cars.

“They can come here and charge their cars here, in the Parliament premises. In every Government premises, we expect to give the facility of electric charging in the parking system,” he said.

In a lighter vein, Birla said it can be provided on a payment basis.

The Minister said there is good development concerning charging stations and the Ministry of Power has issued charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. There are revised consolidated guidelines and standards to accelerate the e-mobility transition in the country, he said.

He said the National Highways Authority of India is developing wayside amenities every 40 kilometres and it is trying to use solar or wind power for that purpose.

Mr. Gadkari said electric charging stations are to be provided with these wayside amenities. The NHAI has already awarded 39 wayside amenities and a proposal for 103 such facilities is at the bidding stage. More than 600 sites have been identified and the bids will be opened soon, he said.

The Bureau of Indian Standards is working on improving standards for charging stations because in the world today charging technology is changing quickly, he said.