Union Minister Nitin Gadkari calls for adopting integrated approach for developing indigenous fuel cells for electric vehicles

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has called for adopting an integrated approach for developing indigenous fuel cells in the field of electric vehicles. He said this while chairing a meeting of government agencies and representatives from research institutions in New Delhi yesterday.

He said, India today stands at the cusp of becoming a world leader in this field. The Minister urged scientists, academia and industry to harness hydrogen-based energy as it is a cost effective and easily available mode in the country.

He indicated towards the lowering costs of solar power in India, which can help energise other modes of fuels. Mr. Gadkari said that with nearly 81 per cent of Li-ion battery components available locally, India stands a very good chance for value addition at lower costs, and resultant employment generation at a large scale.

The Minister also said that initially one crore vehicles will go for scrapping under the new vehicle scrapping policy, which will result in availability of cheaper aluminium, copper, rubber, steel and other products. He said, these will have the potential to reduce the price of battery components.

Mr. Gadkari said that next generation batteries will not only minimise vehicular pollution in India but make India a global supplier of Electric Vehicles.

Speaking on the occasion, NITI Ayog CEO Amitabh Kant stressed upon concentrating on lithium-ion alternative batteries and supported the idea of mining companies exploring opportunities abroad for acquiring assets in this regard.