Amid rising fuel prices Union Minister Nitin Gadkari zooms into Parliament in a hydrogen powered car

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, an ardent advocate of alternate fuel, reached the Parliament on Wednesday in a hydrogen-powered car. As part of the pilot project to study effectiveness of hydrogen powered cars on Indian terrain and climatic conditions, Toyota Mirai is one of its kind in the Indian market.

All eyes on him, Gadkari addressed the media outside the Parliament. “To become Atmanirbhar, we’ve introduced green hydrogen which is generated from water,” Mr. Gadkari said. “Now, manufacturing of green hydrogen will begin in the country, imports will be curbed & new employment opportunities will be created,” he added.

Union Transport Minister Mr. Gadkari shed light on the Centre’s Rs 3,000 crore mission to become a global exporter of hydrogen. He said, “Wherever coal is used (in the country), green hydrogen will be used there.”

Hydrogen based advanced Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) was launched earlier this month by Mr. Gadkari. He had called it one of the best solutions towards zero emission. “Toyota Company from Japan has given me a vehicle which runs on green Hydrogen. I will use it myself as a pilot project (on alternative fuel,” Gadkari had said at the FCEV’s inauguration event.

Addressing the Lok Sabha this month, Mr. Gadkari had said, “I can say within maximum of two years, the cost of electric scooter, car, autorickshaw will be same as petrol-driven scooter, car, autorickshaw. Prices of lithium-ion batteries are coming down. We are developing this chemistry of zinc-ion, aluminium-ion, sodium-ion batteries. If petrol, you are spending Rs 100, then on electric vehicle you will spend Rs 10.”

Talking to media outside the Parliament, Gadkari noted that fuel prices are on a surge due to fluctuations in the international market. The stress it puts on common man is best rectified by use of ‘Green Hydrogen’ powered cars. “Currently, we import Rs 8 lakh crore of crude oil. If we want to become a self-reliant country then we need to produce hydrogen based fuel in India,” he said.

Assuring that green hydrogen would be manufactured in India, Gadkari said, “Green Hydrogen refuelling stations will be established generating sustainable employment opportunities in the country. India will soon become a Green Hydrogen exporting country.”