New Delhi: Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said that the government is working towards a model which will ensure every car user in the country could have an electric vehicle by 2030.
The scheme, which is being studied by a working group under union minister Nitin Gadkari, aims to provide electric cars on zero down payment for which people can pay out of their savings on expensive fossil fuels, for becoming 100% electric vehicle nation by 2030.
India can become the first country of its size which will run 100%of electric vehicles. We are trying to make this programme self financing. We don't need one rupee support from the government. We don't need one rupee investment from the people of India," power minister Piyush Goyal said at an event organised by CII Young India here.
Elaborating further, he said, "We are working (on the scheme). Can we actually give electric car for free (zero down payment) and people can pay for that out of the savings on the petroleum products. Innovation is possible, it just needs an open mind. You need to think of scale and be honest." The minister informed that a small working group under the leadership of road minister Nitin Gadkari has been created with oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan and environment minister Prakash Javadekar on its board.
He said, "We are meeting in first week of April and see (if) India can be 100%on electric vehicles by 2030. We are trying to see if we can monetise the savings then you will have to use cheaper electricity for charging your cars."
"We are thinking of scale. We are thinking of leading the world rather than following the world. India will be first largest country in the world to think of that scale." Goyal cited the example of LED lights where through the bulk tendering, the government has been able to reduce the procurement price of these bulbs to Rs 64.41 in January this year from the market rate of Rs 310 in February 2014.
India’s automobile industry is the sixth largest in the world and accounts for 22% of the country’s total manufacturing output.
The sector is a vital component of the government’s plan to raise the share of manufacturing in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) from about 15% now to 25% by 2022.
The government had started Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme last year under which it has already provided over 8.32 crore LED bulbs to families through power distribution companies at an installment of Rs 10 per month for each bulb.
After the LED bulb distribution scheme, power ministry is working on a similar programme under which it will sell energy-efficient fans and air conditioners at prices much lower than market rates on EMI. About any power tariff he said, "We don't need to increase any tariff in the country. We just need to work smart and bring technology and India can be powerhouse of affordable energy across the country. Cross subsidy across the state can handle the issue."
On the negative subsidy or payment of premium in recently concluded third round of gas auction for stranded power projects (Saps) on Sunday, Goyal said, "There is no need of PSDF now. We have been successful in our mission. Now, they need zero support (subsidy)."
(PTI Inputs)
