At the 2021 Autocar Awards, chief guest, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and MSMEs, shared a number of details regarding the adoption of EVs, the Indian automobile industry and plans for alternate fuels.

• Local production of battery packs to increase
• Price parity between EVs and internal combustion engine cars expected in two years
• Use of hydrogen and petrol-ethanol blend expected to increase

Gadkari lauds Indian automobile industry

Nitin Gadkari praised the Indian automotive industry in his opening remarks, for taking the gigantic target of shifting to BS6 in its stride and accomplishing it in a record time (of less than three years). “We have made a success of the BS6 story. My thanks to the entire industry for your efforts and cooperation.”

Gadkari on electrification and pollution

The minister remarked that the focus now is towards electrification and clean air. “We must understand that the country is struggling with the huge problem of importing up to Rs 8,00,000 crore (US$ 108 billion) of crude oil every year, which is pushing us back economically. That aside, rising pollution is an even bigger concern with states such as New Delhi grappling with it,” he said.

Gadkari said that the EV roadmap is ready and at its level, the government is making a lot of reforms in terms of innovation in lithium-ion technology and its manufacturing by engaging with different institutions like ISRO, DRDO, and IITs.

“At present, we are making up to 81 percent of the entire composition of the lithium-ion battery locally in India, and I am confident that within two years, we will be able to take it to 100 percent,” Gadkari remarked.

The minister also stated that he personally anticipates the prices of electric two-wheelers and four-wheelers coming down to the level of their conventional petrol counterparts in the next two years, while electric buses will retail at prices equalling their diesel-powered brethren.

“I know there are some problems, but the way in which the industry is working makes meextremely confident about achieving this. There is tremendous work going on in areas such as metal-ion and metal-air battery technologies, which are set to enable this target,” he added.

Gadkari on hydrogen and flex-fuel cars

On the topic of alternate propulsion technologies, Gadkari said that a lot of laboratories are doing an excellent job on the hydrogen (fuel-cell) front, and in making green hydrogen. “We are encouraging these propulsion technologies as well.”

He also indicated that the government is constantly increasing the production of alternate fuels such as ethanol and urged the auto industry to extend its support by developing flex-fuel engines, especially for two-wheelers and passenger vehicles, like in the case of countries such as Canada, Brazil, and the US.

“My suggestion is that we must switch to import-substituting, cost-effective, pollution free and indigenous propulsion options,” the minister signed off.